In 1997 New Kent County Resident Robert Robertson contacted the State Corporation Commission and began to collect signatures on a petition to have 932 and 966 phone numbers included in the Richmond local dialing area.  That summer Stran Trout and Cheryl Kimball also contacted the State Corporation Commission and began to collect signatures.   

  Prior to their actions the Providence Forge Exchange (932 and 966 numbers) had been in an "Extended Area Calling Band" with extra charges ranging from 6 cents per minute to 1.28 cents per minute Depending on the time of day of the call.

  When the petitions circulated by Robert Robertson, Stran Trout and Cheryl Kimball had enough signatures, they were sent to the State Corporation Commission with the request that the extra charges be removed. 

  In November of 1998, after surveying the citizens of the New Kent and all other areas that would be affected, the New Kent numbers were included in the Richmond Calling area with an increase in the monthly rate but no charges for measured minutes.

  The new calling area allows Western New Kent residents to call friends and businesses in the Richmond area and for Richmond residents to call New Kent without extra charges.  It is  particularly helpful for anyone with internet access accounts that go through a Richmond number.

  That means that you don't have to pay additional phone charges to read this web page.

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