Re: Area code > 4 digits???

I know (at least in the Chicago area, where new area codes have become a
regular event), the problem is not phone numbers actually being used up,
but being sold.  Companies that provide mobile services and those that
may soon be able to provide local calling service have been buying phone
numbers an exchange at a time (blocks of almost 99,999 numbers).  This
is because no one has been able to come up withj a plan for phone number
portability (changing service carrier and keeping same phone numer). 
Companies with PBX's are also allowed to reserve phone numbers at a very
low rate (something like $0.05/number/month).  So there are millions of
phone numbers out their not used!  Many are even held by companies for
local service that they cannot yet provide (currently Ameritech is the
sole local carrier, but that will be changing).
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