New Area Code 669 Approved by Supes

The Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors this morning voted to implement a new area code via an overlay method, in which residents signing up for new service will be assigned a 669 area code but existing phone numbers will stay the same.

The board voted 4-1 in favor of the change, with Supervisor Liz Kniss, who represents Cupertino in District 5, dissenting.

Kniss called the overlay method "a lousy idea."

"I don't think it's very sensible," Kniss said.

The change will not require any businesses or individuals in the county to change their existing number from the 408 area code.

Santa Clara County Chief Operating Officer Gary Graves said it is the method preferred by most affected parties over the other option, a geographic split.

Supervisor Ken Yeager said the overlay method is the better of two bad options.

"The problem is, neither choice is good and it's going to cause disruption whichever way we go," Yeager said.

-by Bay City News Service