PSC Seeks Comment On Proposed Area Code Change
Posted on Monday, 18 of May , 2009 at 7:33 pm
ALBANY—The New York State Public Service Commission (Commission) is seeking public comment concerning implementation of area code relief in the Boroughs of the Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens and Staten Island currently served by area codes 718 and 347. The change is being considered because this particular area is running out of assignable telephone numbers.
In October 2008, the North American Numbering Plan Administrator (NANPA) indicated that the geographic area served by area codes 718 and 347 is running out of assignable telephone numbers. Demand for central office codes in this area is expected to result in the depletion of available central office codes by late 2011, and Commission area code relief action is necessary to ensure the continued availability of telephone numbers in the area currently served by the 718 and 347 area codes.
The Commission’s goal is to develop a plan that minimizes disruption to customers while ensuring availability of telephone numbers in the New York City area. On May 8, 2009, the Commission commenced a proceeding to investigate and evaluate options for making additional central office codes available in the 718 and 347 area code region.
The proposals under consideration include two options. The first option is an all-services distributed overlay which would assign a new area code to the Boroughs of the Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens and Staten Island, which are served by the existing 718 and 347 area codes. All local calls within and between the 718 and 347 area codes and the new area code would continue to be dialed using 1+10 digit dialing. The North American Numbering Plan Administrator projects a 10-year life for this option.
The second option includes an all-services distributed overlay which would assign a new area code to all five boroughs of New York City or the existing 718 and 347 area codes, as well as the 212, 646 and 917 area codes. All local calls within and between these area codes and the new area code would continue to be dialed using 1+10 digit dialing. The North American Numbering Plan Administrator projects a 6-year life for this option.
An overlay occurs when a new area code is superimposed on an existing calling area which results in more than one area code serving the same calling area or region. As noted above, with an overlay, calls would not be completed without first dialing 1, plus the 3-digit area code, and then the 7-digit number. This dialing pattern is already in effect in the New York City area. Also, under an overlay plan, all existing telephone numbers remain unchanged, while new telephone numbers would be assigned the new area code.
How to Comment
The area code relief proposals can be obtained by visiting the Commission’s www.AskPSC.com consumer Web site. Comments concerning implementation of area code relief in areas of New York City served by area codes 718 and 347 may be provided by:
Writing: Comments in English and Spanish may be mailed to Jaclyn A. Brilling, Secretary, Public Service Commission, Three Empire State Plaza, Albany, New York 12223-1350. Your comments should refer to “Case 09-C-0058-718/347 Area Code.”
Toll-free Opinion Line: Comments may also be submitted through the Commission’s Opinion Line at 1-800-335-2120. This number is designed to take comments about pending cases from in-state callers, 24 hours a day. Callers should select English or Spanish and press “1″ to leave comments about the proposal.
The Internet: Comments may also be submitted via the “PSC Comment Forum” in the “Consumer Assistance” file accessed through the Commission’s www.AskPSC.com consumer Web site. Many libraries offer free Internet access.
All statements and comments should be received or mailed no later than May 29 and will be placed in the public case file and made available for public inspection in the Commission’s file room in its Albany offices, Central Files, 14th floor, Three Empire State Plaza. 5-18-09
Category: Consumers, New York State
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