MEMO: NATIONAL SQUEEZE ON TELEPHONE NUMBERS

The nation's supply of phone numbers is dwindling, so the government is taking steps to make sure what is left lasts longer. But regulators say they will not force consumers nationwide to dial 10 digits to call a neighbor in the same area code. The growth of pagers, cell phones and fax machines has put a squeeze on the nation's numbering plan, prompting a proliferation of new area codes across the country. Left on its own, the current system could expire in the next 10 years...