New Hampshire

Distant Dome: 603 Hesteria in Legislature This Week – InDepthNH.org

Published

2 years ago

April 27, 2024

Distant Dome: 603 Hesteria in Legislature This Week – InDepthNH.org

By GARRY RAYNO, Distant Dome

Gov. Chris Sununu appeared in “information ads” touting The 603 and you see many people post in FaceBook about returning to the 603 from distant places.

You could almost believe The 603 was akin to The Old Man of the Mountain, the New Hampshire Presidential Primary or “Live Free or Die,” instead of an area code for making telephone calls.

More similar to The Old Man, The 603 will someday be but one of the area codes when people call into New Hampshire either on a landline or a cell phone or IPad or computer or voice-over-internet protocols, etc.

Despite the numerous devices, or because of the numerous devices, The 603 is running out of numeric combinations for the remaining seven numbers for phones or whatever is assigned a number.

Ideally, there are 7.7 million seven digit numbers that could be available for use, far more than the 1.4 million residents of the state.

But it is much more complicated than simple numbers. Blocks of numbers are reserved by various providers and many businesses, organizations and government entities have far more than just one number to call.

The providers are reluctant to surrender the numbers they can assign to customers as you can imagine and how many people have more than one phone.

When I worked for a newspaper, I had two company cell phones, my own, a company pager, and my landlines at home and at work. That meant people had six phone numbers by which they could reach me.

If everyone had that many numbers attached, The 603 would be only one of the state’s two area codes with 8.4 million numbers.

New Hampshire is one of a little more than a dozen states that have had the one area code since its inception in 1947. Most other one-code states are facing similar issues.

The exhaustion of numbers accelerated with the explosion of cellphones and voiceover internet protocols and the state has already tried to blunt the impact beginning in 2000 and then again in 2013.

Maine faced a similar problem and would hit its limit by 2025 but the Pine Tree State’s legislature acted to preserve its single area code.

Last fall, the state announced it would extend The 207 until 2032 to 2034, according to the North American Number Plan Administrator.

“Our staff has looked at several practices that have impacted the rate at which our numbers were being tied up, including forecasting and block request practices, curbing the use of numbering resources by robocalls, and encouraging providers to work collaboratively,” said Maine Public Utility Commission Chair Phillip Barlett said. “We believe that our continued efforts to ensure numbers are used in the most efficient manner possible could extend the life of Maine’s single area code out until the 2050s.”

In New Hampshire, the area code is not expected to max out for three or four years, so the governor and Legislature have both jumped into the fray to save The 603.

Last fall, Sununu issued an executive order titled “Don’t Overload the Code” that stated “the 603 Area Code is an iconic symbol of New Hampshire, has come to both signify and symbolize residents and businesses being located in or originating from New Hampshire, and has become part of the New Hampshire identity, and the implementation of a second area code is likely to have significant cultural and economic consequences for residents and businesses located in-state.”
The order required the Department of Energy to open a proceeding to investigate strategies including reclaiming unused numbers from providers, to extend the single area code as long as possible.

He also implemented a study of business practices related to its use of telephone numbers and the potential cost and significance of a second area code for the state.

This year’s legislature has Senate Bill 603 — get it —sponsored by Senate President Jeb Bradley, R-Wolfeboro, and introduced at the request of the governor, which would give the Department of Energy and the Public Utilities Commission authority to promote and adopt telephone number conservation measures to maximize the life of the state’s single area code.

Speaking in favor of his bill, Bradley spoke of The 603 being part of the state’s brand and identity, and any change would impact that brand in a negative way by diluting its impact.

The Senate amended the bill to include many of the measures done by Maine to extend the lifetime of The 207.

During the public hearing, the PUC expressed concern that some conservation measures could impact rural areas negatively but not the resource-draining areas of Manchester, Portsmouth, Concord, Nashua and Keene.

The committee was also told any new area code would be an overlay, which means if you have a 603 area code, you will retain it, but any new telephone number will have a new area code.

At the hearing, Chris Rand of the NH Telephone Association, stressed that rural carriers historically have not been a significant source of numbering problems due to their limited number blocks and they need to be protected under the proposed changes.

The bill would allow the Department of Energy to hire a consultant who would cost between $100,000 and $300,000.

The Senate passed SB 603 on a voice vote, surprising it was not a 24-0 roll call, and was sent to the House on March 21 and was sent to the House Science, Technology and Energy Committee for a public hearing and review.

The House committee kept the bill largely intact, but added a reduction in the state’s Communications tax from 7 to 6.5 percent without any indication how much impact that would have.

The bill may be headed to the House Ways and Means Committee to determine the fiscal impact of the reduction in the tax that has produced diminishing returns as people move from landlines to cell phones and other devices.

Thursday SB 603 comes before the House with an ought-to-pass-with-amendment recommendation from the House Science, Technology and Energy Committee, but with a minority report recommending killing the bill.

The vote to recommend passing the bill was 10-9, so it is likely to garner some debate on the House floor.

The minority report is written by Rep. and former Dartmouth computer science professor, Tom Cormen, D-Lebanon, who notes the bill has two problems, no known fiscal impact from the reduction in the Communications Tax and it is simply putting off the inevitable.

“Whether or not we attempt to extend the life of the 603 area code, we will run out of phone numbers in the 603 area code sometime in the next few years,” Cormen writes in the minority report. “The bottom line is that this bill spends money just to kick the can down the road.”

When the Old Man fell and turned into dust, the state was shocked, in disbelief, and truly lost a symbol of its heritage dating back to at least Daniel Webster who said “Men hang out their signs indicative of their respective trades; shoe makers hang out a gigantic shoe; jewelers a monster watch, and the dentist hangs out a gold tooth; but up in the Mountains of New Hampshire, God Almighty has hung out a sign to show that there He makes men.”

No one’s manhood or womanhood disappeared when the Old Man fell off the face of Cannon Mountain, and it should not when The 603 eventually is joined by a little brother or sister.

Did the state’s brand just begin in 1947, or was The Granite State known for its majestic mountains, crystal clear lakes, Presidential Primary, maple sugar, fall foliage, skiing, Live Free or Die, business friendly atmosphere, no income or sales tax and making “real men” before The 603 was established?

Maybe the legislature ought to be more concerned about hungry kids, homelessness, and the growing tyranny of the minority in this state and country, rather than if The 603 is the state’s only area code.

Garry Rayno may be reached at garry.rayno@yahoo.com.

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New Hampshire

Former president of NH-based charity sentenced after stealing $350K

Published

2 hours ago

March 1, 2026

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Former president of NH-based charity sentenced after stealing 0K

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New Hampshire

Mass. man struck by car, seriously injured on I-93 in Londonderry, NH

Published

14 hours ago

March 1, 2026

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Mass. man struck by car, seriously injured on I-93 in Londonderry, NH

A Massachusetts man was flown to the hospital after he was struck by a car when he stepped out of his vehicle in the breakdown lane of Interstate 93 in Londonderry, New Hampshire, on Saturday morning.

State police say 40-year-old Felix Matos Medina, of Lawrence, had stopped on the right side of I-93 south at Exit 5 just before 11 a.m. to investigate a possible mechanical issue. He was struck shortly after he stepped out of his vehicle by a Chevrolet Malibu and sustained serious injuries.

Medina was taken by medical helicopter to Lahey Hospital and Medical Center in Burlington, Mass., police said. There was no immediate update on his condition.

I-93 southbound was closed near Exit 5 for about 30 minutes to facilitate the medical helicopter’s landing. One lane remained closed for several hours to accommodate crash reconstruction and on-scene investigation.

The driver who struck Medina, identified as David Jodoin, stopped at the scene and is cooperating with investigators, according to police. No charges have been filed at this time, but all aspects of the crash remain under investigation at this time.

Anyone with information that may assist the investigation is asked to contact Trooper Evan Puopolo at 603-451-9784.

State police are also reminding all New Hampshire drivers that Sherrill’s Law requires motorists approaching a stopped vehicle displaying warning signals to slow down and give plenty of space. Drivers are also required to move out of partially or wholly blocked lanes when it’s safe to do so.

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New Hampshire

Downtown Shooting | How Much Income Makes Someone ‘Rich’ | Sex Sale Gone Bad On Facebook? Nearby News NH

Published

1 day ago

February 28, 2026

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Downtown Shooting | How Much Income Makes Someone ‘Rich’ | Sex Sale Gone Bad On Facebook? Nearby News NH

CONCORD, NH — Here are the Top 10 most popular stories and posts from around New Hampshire Patch sites last week.

Concord Police Investigating The Death Of A Young Child In The City’s South End Neighborhood: Update: Dakin Street was closed to traffic for several hours during an investigation of a child found dead at a duplex on Friday morning.
Facebook Marketplace Cleaning Services Hire Or Sex Sale Gone Bad Leads To Stabbing In Manchester: Court docs: Frank Miller of Manchester and Kendra Gokey, a homeless woman, were arrested on first-degree assault and other charges Sunday.
Man Shot During Dispute On South State Street In Downtown Concord: Video: Breaking: A man was shot in the leg Saturday during a dispute; cops have South State Street from Thompson to Concord closed to traffic.
Fast Food Chain Closing Locations | Queen City Killing | Meth Distributor Pleads Guilty | More: Nearby News: Also: Best sandwich shop in NH; untimely death; crashes; knife attack indictments; firefighter injured in explosion released from hospital.
After The Snow Sunday And Monday, More Is Coming To New Hampshire, Forecasters Say: After the storm that is expected to bring 8 to 12 inches of snow to the state, more snowstorm fronts are expected to arrive this week.
6 To 15 Inches Of Snow Heading To The Granite State Sunday Night; Wind Gusts Up To 45 mph: Forecasters: Heavy, blinding snow is expected in central and southern New Hampshire, as well as the Seacoast, from Sunday night to Monday morning.
National Fast Food Chain To Close Hundreds Of Restaurants; New Hampshire Locations May Be Impacted: The chain that closed hundreds of locations in 2024 expects to shutter approximately 360 nationwide during the first half of 2026.
Police Arrest Man On Felony Charges After South State Street Shooting In Downtown Concord: Follow-Up: David Anziani faces first-degree and second-degree assault, reckless conduct, and felonious firearm charges after a shooting on Saturday.
Hollis Teen Faces Assault Charge, Accused Of An ‘Unprovoked’ Attack In Downtown Nashua In November: Connor Cook was arrested in late December after being accused of punching another man in the face on Main Street and then fleeing the scene.
How Much Income Is Needed To Be Considered ‘Rich’ In New Hampshire?: A new analysis details the annual household income required to be considered among the top 10 percent of earners in the Granite State.

Here are some other posts readers may have missed:

Child Death Investigation | Queen City Tax Cap Fight | Fun Things To Do This Weekend | More: PM Patch NH

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