After about a year of practice, businesses and residents in the northern part of Rio Arriba County will have no choice but to use the “575” area code starting Oct. 5.
The state Public Regulation Commission ordered phone companies to comply by 12:01 a.m. Oct. 5 with the new area code. The change was made because commissioners believed the state was in danger of running out of phone numbers in the “505” area code due to an increased population and more wireless devices. The Commission approved the change in 2006.
The areas in the County that will have to change over include Lindrith, Gallina, Ojo Caliente, Vallecitos and any places north or west of them. County Comptroller Mary Louise Martinez said she isn’t concerned about any effects the change will have on County offices in the north, which include the Tierra Amarilla County complex and courthouse.
“I don’t see it’s gonna have any kind of an impact — other than these,” she said, pointing at her business cards.
After the change is in effect, callers who dial the wrong area code will hear a recorded message telling them to hang up and redial using the new one.
Business owners in Chama who depend on tourists being able to contact them seemed similarly unconcerned, especially since they had a year to get used to the idea when both “505” and “575” worked to reach them.
Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad Commission Executive Director Leo Schmitz said the company started changing its web site and advertisements over to “575” months ago, so he hopes the cost will be minimal.
“Everyone knows it’s coming,” he said.
Chama Valley Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Rose Martinez said many business owners in the Chama area also started using “575” in their advertisements earlier. She said the change may puzzle some tourists.
“I think there’s gonna be some confusion,” she said. “It’s something people are just gonna have to get used to.”
Elk Horn Lodge co-owner Jill Lane said the Lodge updated its web site, and when the old brochures ran out the new ones were printed using the “575” area code, so the financial impact to the Lodge has been nil.
“We’re not worried in the least,” she said. “If they switched it on us overnight it may have been more of an issue.”