Dave wrote on Feb 14
th, 2010 at 12:32pm:
So a US "local call" isn't necessarily a call to someone who is local? What is it with the use of the phrase "local call" which is quite a source of confusion, whether in the UK or US?
And a local call can be either free or chargeable ("toll"). So how do you know which it is and why are some free and some chargeable?
It may be useful to have a map available whilst reading this:
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=palm+beach+county,+f...I will try to illustrate by example. I am connected to the West Palm Beach exchange, although I am not located within the West Palm Beach city limits. The West Palm Beach exchange will encompass several other locations, including what the US defines as (incorporated) cities, towns, villages and (unincorporated) 'census designated places'. The NPA (area code) for West Palm Beach is 561. The West Palm Beach exchange has around 247 NXX (central office/exchange codes) allocated, and each NXX is further subdivided into the XXXX subscriber number to yield the familiar NPA-NXX-XXXX format.
Two adjacent exchanges are Boynton Beach (south of West Palm) and Jupiter-Tequesta (north of West Palm). Boynton has the same NPA as West Palm, ie 561, plus 42 NXX. Jupiter-Tequesta also has the same NPA plus 21 NXX.
The local calling area for West Palm Beach means that calls from West Palm Beach to either West Palm Beach, Boynton Beach or Jupiter-Tequesta are free, unmetered and unlimited. The local calling area is shown in the phone book, known here as the "White Pages".
So let us take an example with reference to
http://www.localcallingguide.com/lca_rcdist.phpA West Palm Beach NPA-NXX is 561-201 and a Boynton Beach NPA-NXX is 561-880. Entering the above into the link above shows that a local call will result. This is the 'free' call that I have referred to.
Quote:From To
NPA-NXX 561-201 561-880
Rate centre West Palm Beach, FL Boynton Beach, FL
Rate centre V/H 08166/00607 08197/00588
LATA 46018 46018
Distance* 12 miles 19 km
Local call+ Y
And for a call from West Palm Beach to Jupiter-Tequesta (561-222):
Quote:From To
NPA-NXX 561-201 561-222
Rate centre West Palm Beach, FL Jupiter, FL
Rate centre V/H 08166/00607 08124/00642
LATA 46018 46018
Distance* 18 miles 29 km
Local call+ Y
The exchange to the south of Boynton Beach is Delray Beach. The exchange to the north of Jupiter-Tequesta is Hobe Sound. Delray Beach has an NPA of 561 plus 61 NXX. Hobe Sound has an NPA of 772 plus 9 NXX.
Entering a call from West Palm Beach (561-201) to Delray Beach (561-441) and a call from West Palm Beach (561-201) to Hobe Sound (772-263) into the call checker gives the following results:
Quote:From To
NPA-NXX 561-201 561-441
Rate centre West Palm Beach, FL Delray Beach, FL
Rate centre V/H 08166/00607 08210/00582
LATA 46018 46018
Distance* 17 miles 27 km
Local call+ Y
Call type ECS
Quote:From To
NPA-NXX 561-201 772-263
Rate centre West Palm Beach, FL Hobe Sound, FL
Rate centre V/H 08166/00607 08105/00661
LATA 46018 46018
Distance* 26 miles 42 km
Local call+ Y
Call type ECS
Again, local calls are indicated, but this time, the additional call type of ECS is shown. This is what is known as Extended Calling Service, and again, a summary of ECS is shown in the White Pages.
For West Palm Beach, the ECS area covers calls from West Palm Beach to Belle Glade, Boca Raton, Delray Beach, Hobe Sound, Jensen Beach, Pahokee, Port St Lucie and Stuart exchanges. ECS local calls from West Palm Beach are charged at a flar rate of 25c per call, but are still local. I do not know whether the 25c flat rate applies to other areas.
Taking a call from Jupiter-Tequesta to Hobe Sound. Both are within different counties, and both have different NPAs:
Quote:From To
NPA-NXX 561-222 772-263
Rate centre Jupiter, FL Hobe Sound, FL
Rate centre V/H 08124/00642 08105/00661
LATA 46018 46018
Distance* 9 miles 14 km
Local call+ Y
This gives a local free call, demonstrating that local free calling crossed NPA boundaries.
Now onto a call from West Palm Beach to Miami (305-201):
Quote:From To
NPA-NXX 561-201 305-201
Rate centre West Palm Beach, FL Miami, FL
Rate centre V/H 08166/00607 08351/00527
LATA 46018 46017
Distance* 66 miles 106 km
Local call+ N
Even though West Palm Beach and Miami are within the same LATA (
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Local_access_and_transport_area), this is not a local call. As to the cost of such a call, further research is necessary as I have been unable to determine this with any certainty for those with basic phone service.
I hope this illustration makes it a little clearer.