Press Release

PUC Assigns City of Harrisburg as Administrator of 311 Dialing Code

Published on 5/22/2014

Filed under: Telecommunications

HARRISBURG – The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) today assigned the City of Harrisburg as the proper administrator of the 311 dialing code within the city.

The Commission voted 5-0 to grant the petition, which allows the city to use the abbreviated dialing code to provide information on non-emergency police services and other government services to its residents. When fully implemented, a call to 311 will offer information including, but not limited to:

• Sanitation routes
• Street closures
• Amber alerts
• Public safety advisories
• Weather conditions
• Construction and maintenance activities
• Access to information for Harrisburg citizens and visitors

The city is in the process of implementing a plan to establish, host and operate the telephone and web service, which will be available 24 hours a day and seven days a week.

The 311 dialing code was assigned in 1997 by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) on a nationwide basis for non-emergency police services, aiming to alleviate congestion on 911 circuits and to provide access to other government services. The 311 code is currently being used with success in Baltimore, Philadelphia, Chicago, New York and other municipalities.

The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission balances the needs of consumers and utilities; ensures safe and reliable utility service at reasonable rates; protects the public interest; educates consumers to make independent and informed utility choices; furthers economic development; and fosters new technologies and competitive markets in an environmentally sound manner.

For recent news releases and video of select Commission proceedings or more information about the PUC, visit our website at www.puc.pa.gov. Follow the PUC on Twitter – @PA_PUC for all things utility.  “Like” PAPowerSwitch on Facebook for easy access to information on electric shopping.

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Docket No.  P-2014-2412153

Contact:

• Deputy Press Secretary
  717-787-5722