# Whar's so special about these area codes?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whars-so-special-about-these-area-codes/514083
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [October 16, 2009, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whars-so-special-about-these-area-codes/514083 "2009-10-16T19:54:57Z")
**Posts on this page:** 7
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Canadjun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Canadjun)
#### Post date: [October 16, 2009, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whars-so-special-about-these-area-codes/514083/1 "2009-10-16T19:54:57Z")
I am simply curious (which is why I am asking here :D); since I know no one in the relevant area codes I really don’t give a sh-t. However, since I am curious by nature, can someone explain the probable reasoning for this message from my phone company (Telus)? What’s so special about 712 and 218?
> [@Telus](#):
>
> Important information for TELUS clients
> Long Distance Rate Update
>
> Due to the increasing costs of providing calls to select US destinations, long distance calls to phone numbers within the 712 (Western Iowa) and 218 (Northern Minnesota) area codes will be subject to a rate of $0.20/minute. This change applies to pay per use, block of time and unlimited plans. Your long distance plan will be updated with this rate on November 5, 2009.
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### Author:  [@ZenBeam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZenBeam)
#### Post date: [October 16, 2009, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whars-so-special-about-these-area-codes/514083/2 "2009-10-16T20:10:50Z")
It would probably help if you said where you lived. My guess would be that you lived near, but not too near, those particular areas. But for all I know, you live in Hawaii.
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### Author:  [@Giles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giles)
#### Post date: [October 16, 2009, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whars-so-special-about-these-area-codes/514083/3 "2009-10-16T20:12:40Z")
**Canadjun** ’s profile says that he or she is located in Alberta.
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### Author:  [@gazpacho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gazpacho)
#### Post date: [October 16, 2009, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whars-so-special-about-these-area-codes/514083/4 "2009-10-16T20:33:32Z")
The phone company for 712 charges more to call there.
[http://www.google.com/support/forum/p/voice/thread?tid=2b8f5befea381d29&hl=en](http://www.google.com/support/forum/p/voice/thread?tid=2b8f5befea381d29&hl=en)
[http://www.techdirt.com/article.php?sid=20070207%2F123022&threaded=true&sp=1](http://www.techdirt.com/article.php?sid=20070207%2F123022&threaded=true&sp=1)
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### Author:  [@Canadjun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Canadjun)
#### Post date: [October 16, 2009, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whars-so-special-about-these-area-codes/514083/5 "2009-10-16T21:21:07Z")
> [@ZenBeam](#):
>
> It would probably help if you said where you lived. My guess would be that you lived near, but not too near, those particular areas. But for all I know, you live in Hawaii.
Oops - Sorry! I keep forgetting that now that I am a “guest” people don’t get to see my location without pulling up my profile. As I hope my name provides a hint for, I am Canadian (more specifically, from Edmonton). Also, I don’t think you dudes down there have Telus, do you?
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### Author:  [@AZCowboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AZCowboy)
#### Post date: [October 16, 2009, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whars-so-special-about-these-area-codes/514083/6 "2009-10-16T23:39:19Z")
Long distance carriers have to compensate the local phone companies that terminate their customers calls. Most US local telephone service is provided by the Regional Bell Operating Companies (former Ma Bell companies). Those RBOCs have very low prices for terminating such calls (for many reasons, I won’t go into here).
But many rural areas of the US have local phone services provided by small independent telephone companies. For other reasons, they are permitted to charge MUCH higher prices to the long distance companies to terminate calls.
While certainly not the only ones, those two area codes happened to be mostly served by expensive independent phone companies. Your long distance provider has decided that they aren’t going to eat the additional cost, but instead, pass it along to you in a surcharge.
Most long distance companies eat the higher cost, and make it up on average.
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### Author:  [@Markxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Markxxx)
#### Post date: [October 17, 2009, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whars-so-special-about-these-area-codes/514083/7 "2009-10-17T02:21:25Z")
This came about because of companies like [Talkee.com](http://talkee.com/Default.aspx).
Companies such these have “party lines”
These lines cost nothing for people with free long distance, and the carrier gives [Talkee.Com](http://Talkee.Com) a refund on the billing for the huge number of people it directs to phone companies in those area codes