# Gimme a Link!

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gimme-a-link/30791>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [August 26, 2000, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gimme-a-link/30791 "2000-08-26T02:36:10Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Osip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/4491bb/32.png) [@Osip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Osip)\
**Post date:** [August 26, 2000, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gimme-a-link/30791/1 "2000-08-26T02:36:10Z")

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Ok, I know I have read it, and am almost sure with what little is left in my mind it was here.  
Cecil did a column on how area codes were distributed.  
It had something to do with the low number area codes for high phone traffic areas and rotary phones.

I cannot find it in the archives, maybe one of his books?

HELP!

Osip

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**Author:** ![Demo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/demo/32/8472_2.png) [@Demo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Demo)\
**Post date:** [August 26, 2000, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gimme-a-link/30791/2 "2000-08-26T02:51:30Z")

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[http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a3\_283.html](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a3_283.html)

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**Author:** ![MEBuckner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mebuckner/32/2896_2.png) [@MEBuckner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MEBuckner)\
**Post date:** [August 26, 2000, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gimme-a-link/30791/3 "2000-08-26T02:59:23Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> _from Cecil’s column:_  
> Since then the guiding principle behind the assignment of new area codes has been to make the new number as different as possible from the adjacent old ones in order to avoid confusion.

So, what do the Telephonic Powers That Be have against North Carolina? They put 919 right next to 910, for chrissakes.

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**Author:** ![Osip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/4491bb/32.png) [@Osip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Osip)\
**Post date:** [August 26, 2000, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gimme-a-link/30791/4 "2000-08-26T03:02:40Z")

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Thanks Demo.

🙂

Osip