Press Release

PUC Seeks Comment, Will Set Public Input Hearings on 717 Renumbering Plan

Published on 12/17/2009

Filed under: Telecommunications

HARRISBURG – The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) today voted to seek comment and schedule public input hearings on a proposal designed to ensure adequate numbering resources in the 717 area code geographic regions.

In view of the well-documented disruption to customers caused by changes in area codes, the Commission voted 5-0 to seek written comments from consumers, the industry and other interested parties and schedule public input hearings. Commission policy is to ensure that numbering resources are made available on an equitable, efficient and timely basis in Pennsylvania while ensuring that the impact of proliferating new area codes on consumers is as minimal as possible.

The deadline for filing comments is 45 days after the PUC Order is published in the Pennsylvania Bulletin.  Times, dates and locations for the public input hearings will be announced in the future. The PUC will issue press releases and post information to its website at www.puc.state.pa.us to announce both the comment deadline and information on the public input hearings.

The North American Numbering Plan Administrator, “NeuStar Inc” (Neustar), which is the neutral third party Number Planning Area (NPA) relief planner for Pennsylvania, petitioned the PUC on behalf of Pennsylvania’s telecommunications industry to institute an “overlay” plan. An overlay plan means that once the existing telephone numbers in the 717 area code are exhausted, new telephone services in that geographic region would be assigned telephone numbers out of the new area code. Ten-digit local dialing would then apply to all telephone calls.

Six relief alternatives are possible for ensuring adequate number resources. The alternatives include an overlay of a new area code and various geographic splits of the existing area code running east to west, north to south or northeast to southeast. More specifics on the plan can be found the PUC’s website by searching the docket number found at the bottom of the release.

New area codes are needed when existing area codes exhaust their supply of “NXX” codes (which is the second set of three digits in a 10-digit telephone number, NPA-NXX-XXXX).  NeuStar claims that the NXX codes or telephone numbers for the 717 area code will be exhausted in the third quarter of 2012.

The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission balances the needs of consumers and utilities to ensure safe and reliable utility service at reasonable rates; protect the public interest; educate consumers to make independent and informed utility choices; further economic development; and foster new technologies and competitive markets in an environmentally sound manner.

For recent news releases, audio of select Commission proceedings or more information about the PUC, visit our website at www.puc.state.pa.us.

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Docket No. P-2009-2136951

Contact:

• Press Secretary
  717-787-5722