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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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. 

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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.

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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.”

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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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Pakistan hosts diplomatic discussions on ending war

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Pakistan hosts diplomatic discussions on ending war


Foreign ministers from Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Egypt will meet in Islamabad today in an attempt to come up with a plan to de-escalate the Iran war.

The meeting comes as several thousand more U.S. troops arrived in the region and after another group got involved in the expanding conflict: Yemen’s Houthis.

The Iran-backed Houthis launched missiles towards Israel, and there’s concern their involvement could threaten another vital global shipping lane in the Red Sea.

Here are more updates on day 30 of the Iran war.

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Diplomacy Push in Pakistan

The four foreign ministers from regional powers will meet in Islamabad today and Monday for a push towards diplomacy to end the war.

In a statement ahead of the meeting, the Egyptian government said: “Discussions are expected to focus on recent developments related to regional military escalation and ongoing diplomatic efforts to contain tensions and promote de-escalation.”

“The talks come amid heightened concerns about regional stability, with participating countries seeking to coordinate their stances and support political solutions to emerging crises,” it added.

Whether whatever consensus the countries known as “the quad” come up with will be accepted by the US, Israel, and Iran is another question.

Pakistan has emerged as a possible peace-broker in the conflict, passing messages between the U.S. and Tehran. Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said Saturday that “dialogue, diplomacy, and such confidence-building measures are the only way forward.”

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Dar also welcomed the fact Iran has agreed to allow 20 Pakistan-flagged ships – or two a day – through the Strait of Hormuz.

Houthis enter war

Iranian-backed Houthi militants in Yemen launched the first missile they have fired since the war began toward Israel on Saturday. Israel’s military successfully intercepted it but the Houthis’ attack opens another front in a war that has now moved into its second month.

Up until Saturday’s missile launch the Houthis had stayed out of this war. But a Houthi spokesman said attacks will continue until “the aggression on all resistance fronts stops.”

Pakistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs / AP

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AP

In this photo released by the Pakistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, left, meets with his Pakistani counterpart Ishaq Dar in Islamabad, Pakistan, Sunday, March 29, 2026.

The Yemen-based rebels were active during Israel’s war in Gaza, firing on cargo ships in the Red Sea and disrupting global commercial traffic.

With Iran essentially blockading the Strait of Hormuz, driving up global oil prices, there are concerns that if the Houthis start attacking ships in the Red Sea again global shipping will be even more disrupted.

Iran also hit multiple sites around Tel Aviv and Jerusalem Saturday and Israel’s military says Iran is increasingly using cluster bombs.

Designed to detonate at high altitude the munition disperses dozens of smaller bombs that are more challenging for Israel’s multi-layered air defense system to intercept and can cause damage over a wider area.

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Dozens of countries have signed onto a cluster munitions treaty banning the weapons – except Iran, Israel and the U.S.

Iran threatens U.S. universities in region

Iranian authorities and residents say more airstrikes hit them overnight. Social media videos from across Iran showed strikes hitting all over the country.

Israel’s military said it had completed what it called a wide-scale wave of strikes targeting weapons production and storage sites.

Iran claims U.S.-Israeli strikes hit a Tehran university over the weekend and Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps threatened American university campuses in the Middle East in retaliation.

“We advise all employees, professors, and students of American universities in the region and residents of their surrounding areas” to stay a kilometer away from campuses, the statement, carried by Iranian media, said.

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Several US universities have campuses in the Gulf, including New York University in the United Arab Emirates and Texas A&M University, among others, in Qatar.

Meanwhile, Iran continues to fire drones and missiles at Gulf countries, with Kuwait saying it was intercepting missile and drone attacks early Sunday. Saudi Arabia said it intercepted and destroyed ten drones.

Iran also claimed it had attacked two major aluminium sites in Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Emirates Global Aluminium confirmed an Iranian attack wounded several and caused significant damage to its plant.

U.S. Troops injured, more arrive

At least 15 U.S. service members were wounded Friday in an Iranian strike on a Saudi air base that hosts American troops, according to the Associated Press, including at least five in serious condition. The missile and drone strikes targeted Saudi Arabia’s Prince Sultan air base, located outside the capital Riyadh.

A first responder assists an injured boy following a strike that hit a residential building amid the U.S.-Israeli military campaign in Tehran, Iran, Saturday, March 28, 2026.
A first responder assists an injured boy following a strike that hit a residential building amid the U.S.-Israeli military campaign in Tehran, Iran, Saturday, March 28, 2026.

Iran has targeted U.S. service members at bases throughout the region since the war began a month ago, in retaliation for the U.S. attacks and seeking to drive troops out of the region. Overall, the Pentagon has put the U.S. casualty toll at 13 killed and more than 300 injured.

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On Saturday, troops from the Japan-based 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, made up of around 3,500 sailors and Marines, arrived in the Middle East, according to U.S. Central Command.

The U.S. military will not say where and how they might be deployed. Thousands more soldiers from the U.S. military’s 82nd Airborne Division are also expected to be deployed.

Journalists killed in Lebanon

Three Lebanese journalists covering the Israeli invasion of the country’s south were killed in an Israeli airstrike in Jezzine.

Women hold posters showing Al-Mayadeen TV reporter Fatima Ftouni, left, and, in another poster, Hezbollah's Al-Manar TV correspondent Ali Shoeib, center, and cameraman Ali Ftouni during their funeral at a temporary cemetery in Dahiyeh, Beirut's southern suburbs, Beirut, Lebanon, Sunday, March 29, 2026.
Women hold posters showing Al-Mayadeen TV reporter Fatima Ftouni, left, and, in another poster, Hezbollah’s Al-Manar TV correspondent Ali Shoeib, center, and cameraman Ali Ftouni during their funeral at a temporary cemetery in Dahiyeh, Beirut’s southern suburbs, Beirut, Lebanon, Sunday, March 29, 2026.

One of them worked for a TV channel affiliated with Hezbollah and Israel accuses him of being a militant rather than a journalist – but has not provided evidence. The journalist Israel says it targeted was Ali Shaeb, a veteran TV correspondent and household name in Lebanon. After killing him, Israel’s military issued a statement accusing him of exposing the locations of Israeli troops.

The other two journalists killed were siblings, TV correspondent Fatima Ftouni and her cameraman brother, Mohammed Ftouni. Afterward their father appeared on TV, saying he was proud of his children.

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All three had been covering Israel’s invasion of southern Lebanon.

Lebanese officials called the attack a flagrant violation of international law, and said they’re complaining to the UN Security Council. Hundreds of fellow journalists marched at a protest vigil in Lebanon’s capital.

The three journalists were among at least 47 people killed Saturday in Israeli attacks, according to Lebanese health officials.

Nine of those killed were paramedics, which the head of the World Health Organization called “a tragedy,” noting health workers are protected under international law.

Residents inspect their home after it was struck by an Iranian missile in Eshtaol, central Israel, Saturday, March 28, 2026.
Residents inspect their home after it was struck by an Iranian missile in Eshtaol, central Israel, Saturday, March 28, 2026.

Israel has intensified its attacks across Lebanon, mostly in the South, where Israeli ground troops are moving northward to try to oust Hezbollah militants.

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Another Israeli soldier was also killed in Lebanon, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressing his condolences on X over the weekend.

Developments in Syria, Iraq

The war is spreading to more parts of the Middle East. On Sunday, Syria said it had intercepted a drone strike from Iraq targeting a U.S. military base. Pro-Iran Iraqi groups have claimed responsibility for some attacks on US interests.

Separately, the Syrian and UAE governments condemned an attack targeting the residence of the Kurdish region’s president Nechirvan Barzani.

French President Emmanuel Macron also condemned the attack saying: “The sovereignty of Iraq, and of Kurdistan within it, is essential to regional stability. Everything must be done to prevent Iraq from being drawn into the ongoing escalation.”

On Sunday, the Israeli army said it had launched its “first” attack into Lebanon from Syria.

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Jane Arraf in Amman, Emily Feng in Van, Turkey, Lauren Frayer in Jezzine, Lebanon, Carrie Khan in Tel Aviv, and Kate Bartlett in Johannesburg contributed to this report.

Copyright 2026 NPR





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Abandoned Camper Fire On South Main Street Knocked Down By Concord Fire And Rescue Teams

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Abandoned Camper Fire On South Main Street Knocked Down By Concord Fire And Rescue Teams


CONCORD, NH — The Concord Fire Department is investigating the cause of a camper fire on South Main Street late Friday night.

Around 11:30 p.m., fire and rescue teams were sent to South Main Street, not far from Langdon Avenue, for a report of a camper on fire. Dispatch said it was unknown if anyone was inside or if the camper was abandoned.

“We have a couple of calls on it,” a dispatcher said. “It’s fully involved.”

A few minutes later, the fire was confirmed, and firefighters worked to extinguish it. The battalion commander confirmed no one was inside, and it appeared to be abandoned. Dispatch said, if they recalled correctly, the camper had been there for “quite a while.”

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News 603 posted videos from the scene on Facebook here:

And here:

The bulk of the fire was knocked down after about 20 minutes, with firefighters overhauling and dealing with “the hot spots.”

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Not long after the overhaul update, firefighters were sent to a business on South Main Street, near the camper fire, in response to a report of an alarm activation.

After investigating, there did not appear to be an activation at the business, a commander said. Later, dispatch said the alarm appeared to restore itself automatically. Firefighters cleared the scene of the business alarm just after midnight on Saturday.





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New Hampshire may see rare Atlas V rocket launch. Here’s when to look

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New Hampshire may see rare Atlas V rocket launch. Here’s when to look


A 20-story tall, 1.3 million-pound Atlas V rocket will blast off from Florida this weekend, and Granite Staters waking up very early might able to see it if the clouds in the sky don’t cover it.

Teams with United Launch Alliance are prepping for the Atlas V rocket launch, the fifth Amazon Leo constellation mission. Liftoff is planned at 3:53 a.m. ET Sunday, March 29, 2026, from Cape Canaveral, Florida.

Pending weather conditions and cloud cover, the Atlas V-Amazon Leo predawn launch could be visible from Florida to New England, according to ULA. That is, if their city falls on the ULA Atlas V rocket launch visibility map (see below), and if they’re awake at the time of liftoff.

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The Atlas V rocket will be equipped with five solid rocket boosters to launch the next batch of Amazon Leo broadband satellites (previously referred to as Project Kuiper) into low-Earth orbit, giving a great show to those watching.

However, weather could disrupt viewing, as the New Hampshire area on the visibility map is set for isolated snow showers before 10 p.m. on Saturday night as well as partly cloudy skies, the National Weather Service said.

Here’s what to know about ULA Atlas V rocket launch visibility from New Hampshire.

When will ULA Atlas V launch?

The United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket will launch from Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida in the early morning hours on Sunday, March 29. The 29-minute launch window will begin at 3:53 a.m.

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The visibility map provided by ULA shows about when and where your best chances are to see the rocket as it streaks northeasterly into space.

Will New Hampshire be able to see the ULA Atlas V launch

New Hampshire, specifically just outside Concord, New Hampshire, falls in the semi-outer periphery of the visibility area for the ULA Atlas V rocket launch, according to ULA’s visibility map.

Estimated visibility will occur at launch +330 seconds, or about five minutes and 30 seconds, following the launch in Florida. However, viewing chances depend on weather conditions, and Concord, New Hampshire is currently set for isolated snow showers before 10 p.m. and then partly cloudy skies on Saturday night into Sunday morning, according to the National Weather Service. This might block visibility, as clear skies are essential for best views.

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What is ULA Atlas V?

United Launch Alliance’s Atlas V rocket is a spacecraft with five solid rocket boosters that will send a batch of Amazon Leo broadband satellites into outer space, to low-Earth orbit.

How can you follow along live?

FLORIDA TODAY will offer live coverage via a live webcast with live tweets and updates for the rocket launch.



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