Press Release

PUC Schedules Hearings in State College and Erie for 814 Area Code Reconsideration

Published on 4/21/2011

Filed under: Telecommunications

HARRISBURG – The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) today scheduled technical conferences and public input hearings in State College and Erie to receive further input on the effects of both the geographic split and overlay options designed to ensure adequate numbering resources in the 814 area code.  Additional hearings in other areas will be announced in the near future.

Administrative Law Judge David A. Salapa will conduct the proceedings on:

Tuesday, May 24, 2011

The Penn Stater Conference Center Hotel

215 Innovation Blvd.

State College, PA 16803

Technical Conference: 2 p.m.

Public Input Hearing: 6 p.m.

Administrative Law Judge Katrina L. Dunderdale will conduct the proceedings on:

Thursday, May 26, 2011

Ambassador Center

Hemingway Ballroom Entrance

7794 Peach Street

Erie, PA 16509

Technical Conference: 2 p.m.

Public Input Hearing: 6 p.m.

The public is encouraged to attend the public input hearing, where residents will have the opportunity to present remarks that will become part of the record upon which the Commission will base its final decision. The public is welcome to attend the technical conference, but only parties to the case are invited to speak and present testimony. 

For businesses and parties of the case who are attending the technical conference and public input hearings, the Commission offers the following list of questions as guidance and asks those parties to address them as applicable.

The PUC and state Office of Consumer Advocate offer tips on how to participate in public input hearings.  They include:

§  Prepare what you are going to say beforehand.  Even though it is not required, you may want to write out your statement, which can be read.

§  Bring copies.  If you have a written statement you would like to give to the judge as evidence, please bring two copies for the court reporter and several copies for the other participants.

§  Plan to be questioned.  Parties in the case may want to ask you a question to clarify something you said.

Following an announcement by third party area code relief planner, Neustar, that the new projected exhaust date for the 814 area code is the first quarter of 2015, not the first quarter of 2013, the Commission is moving forward with technical conferences and public input hearings, and has suspended the timeline for implementation of area code

relief. Neustar, a third party relief planner, notifies the Commission of projected exhaust dates of “NXX” codes (which is the second set of three digits in a 10-digit telephone number (NPA-NXX-XXXX).

The Commission considered the June 2009 Neustar petition recommending an overlay in 814, historical and forecasted data on current numbering resources and comments received from the public through hearings and written submissions. During the time period from June 2009 until December 2010, the PUC received input from the public providing various comments supporting both the geographic split and overlay options available to the Commission. Therefore, on Dec. 16, 2010, the PUC approved a plan to split the 814 area code along geographic boundaries to avoid running out of phone numbers, creating a new area code for customers in portions of northwestern Pennsylvania.  Neustar chose 582 as the new area code for the Northwestern part of PA.

The Commission has reopened the record on the case and is currently reviewing more than 40 petitions for reconsideration, holding technical conferences and public input hearings. Relief 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.  A Frequently Asked Questions fact sheet and map of the proposed 814/582 exchanges are available on the PUC website.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-2009-2112925

Contact:

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