Press Release

PUC Dismisses 717 Area Code Relief Petition

Published on 12/1/2011

Filed under: Telecommunications

HARRISBURG – The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) today voted to dismiss the 717 area code relief petition filed in October 2009 by “Neustar Inc.” (Neustar), the neutral third-party Number Planning Area (NPA) relief planner for Pennsylvania.

The Commission voted 5-0 to dismiss the area code relief petition citing the most recently released forecasted exhaustion dates chart issued in October of this year. The projected exhaust date for the 717 area code has been extended to the fourth quarter of 2016. Neustar, on behalf of the telecommunications industry, filed the relief plan for the 717 area code because it was predicted to exhaust in third quarter 2012.  Since it has now been determined that the 717 area code will not exhaust in the next five years, the relief plan may be withdrawn or dismissed.

The 717 area code has experienced efficient use of numbering resources due in large part to the diligent efforts of the Commission and others to conserve numbers.  Based on the Commission’s analysis of the current numbering resources available in the 717 area code, adequate resources currently exist for carriers to receive numbers in a timely fashion.  The Commission will continue to monitor the forecasted exhaust dates in this region provided by Neustar.

Neustar petitioned the PUC in October 2009 on behalf of Pennsylvania’s telecommunications industry because the 717 area code was projected to run out of telephone numbers. 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). When the forecasted exhaust date for an area code is set to occur within 36 months, industry numbering guidelines require the preparation of relief options and an industry consensus regarding the form of relief.  Six relief alternatives were suggested for ensuring adequate number resources. The alternatives included an overlay of a new area code and various geographic splits of the existing area code. The Commission held a number of public input hearings in the affected 717 region and a decision was pending until today’s dismissal.

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 Number P-2009-2136951

Contact:

• Denise McCracken
  Senior Communications Specialist
  717-787-5722
  demccracken@pa.gov