Dr. Langham is handed a piece of paper with a local phone number printed on it. The phone number begins with an area code in parentheses followed by seven digits. A phone number in the late 1950s would have two letters (the exchange) followed by five numbers. As late as 1969, Americans were still learning how to convert to seven-digit dialing. Also, no area code was necessary to be given out since area codes generally encompassed an entire state's area.