Watch CBS News

669 Area Code Coming To South Bay

SAN JOSE (CBS SF) - The Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors Tuesday 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 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.

(Copyright 2011 by CBS San Francisco. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Wire services may have contributed to this report.)

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.