2. Description of the 760 Area Code

The 760 area code is one of two geographically large area codes covering eastern California. The other large area code, 530, applies to the north-eastern part of the state and is largely rural. The 760 is predominantly in the south-east and also rural, but also includes densely populated areas of metropolitan San Diego. The 760 area code begins at the Pacific Ocean north of San Diego, sweeps inland to the Mexican and Arizona borders, then turns north following the Nevada border to mid-state, where it terminates at the Bridgeport rate center. The northeast corner of the 760 area code (Bridgeport) is approximately 500 miles from El Centro in the southwest corner, with a driving time of about eight hours.

In the communities located in the northeast portion of the 760 area code, residents live, work, attend school, and carry on their day-to-day business within the same area code. Population centers are separated by vast stretches of uninhabited desert, with large swaths of vacant federally-owned land also interspersed. Telephone customers would not typically commute from one area code to another. For example, residents of Independence in Inyo County, just south of Mono County, would need to cross the Sierra Nevada Mountains to reach the nearest different area code.

In contrast, the southwestern section of the 760 area code is part of metropolitan San Diego, with numerous area codes in close proximity. Residents could live in the 760 area code (Encinitas), work in the 619 area code (downtown San Diego), and shop in 858 area code (La Jolla area). Residents enjoying this multiple area code lifestyle routinely dial close-by telephone numbers that require a different area code.

In considering the proposals for adding new numbering resources in this area code, we will be mindful of the differences between the northeastern and southwestern sides of the 760 area code.