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Monday, October 06, 2008

Area Code Change Takes Effect in N.M.


Associated Press
      It's official. Part of New Mexico is no longer home to the 505 area code.
    Many New Mexico residents are no longer able to use the old area code to make long-distance calls, including everyone in southern New Mexico and the eastern part of the state. Albuquerque, Santa Fe and the northwest will keep 505.
    "We want New Mexicans to understand that, on a nostalgia front, New Mexico is losing its signature 505 area code," said Paul Carbajal, spokesman for the New Mexico Public Regulation Commission.
    The change became official early Sunday with mandatory dialing.
    State regulators said the new 575 area code was needed to meet the rapidly growing demand for additional phone numbers because of increased cell phones, fax machines and modem use putting pressure on the existing 505 area code.
    Las Cruces resident Fred Martinez said he's been ready for a year.
    "I knew that Albuquerque was going to get to keep the 505 ...," Martinez said. "We made the switch a long time ago."
    Carbajal advised residents and business owners to make sure their business cards, letterheads, fax machines, any other equipment they use to communicate with anyone reflect the new area code and the mandatory dialing procedure.
    A recording will greet customers placing calls using the incorrect area code, he said.
    The switch, however, may not be completely smooth. There were some reports of problems with the new area code when it was first instituted at the start of the transitional period a year ago.
    "We understand that at some point there is going to be some kind of glitch or some kind of information downfall," Carbajal said. "We're prepared for that. But all indications are that things are going well."
    The area code split was approved by the PRC in 2006. Commissioners, at the time, said they drew the boundaries for the new area code to create the lowest impact on the largest number of people.

Copyright ©2008 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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