Press Release

HARRISBURG, Pa. – In another step to slow the proliferation of area codes, the Public Utility Commission (PUC) today ordered a thousands-block pooling trial to be implemented in the Pittsburgh area on October 29, 2001.

The pooling trial requires participating telephone companies to share unused numbers in blocks of 1,000. Carriers donate unused telephone numbers to open the pool.

"Without pooling, these numbers could not be assigned to other phone companies," said PUC Commissioner Terrance T. Fitzpatrick. "By using telephone numbers more efficiently through a pooling process, the life of the existing area code is lengthened."

The rapid proliferation of area codes both here and across the country is a result of telecommunications companies having to operate within an outdated telephone network structure. Currently companies can receive numbers only in blocks of 10,000 whether they have 100 or 9,000 customers. Once the 10,000 numbers are given to a telecommunications carrier, they cannot be assigned to another one. The pooling trial in the 412/724/878 region mandates that carriers share the available telephone numbers in blocks of 1,000 instead of 10,000 numbers.

On April 27, Pennsylvania’s first telephone number pooling trial began in the 610/484 area code. Over 40 carriers donated approximately 2,525,000 telephone numbers to open the pool. The pooling trial helped to delay the activation of a third area code (835) for the 610/484 region. The PUC directed that 835 cannot be activated until the majority of numbers in the 610/484 area codes are used.

In related area code news, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) will begin mandatory 10-digit dialing in the 412/724 area code on July 12, 2001 in anticipation of the new area code overlay. All telephone calls will have to use an area code, whether making a local or long distance telephone call. The local calling areas are not changing. If a telephone call is currently a local call, it will remain a local call with the 10-digit dialing. If a call is currently a toll call, it will remain a toll call after the overlay is instituted.

The 878 area code overlay will be activated on August 17, 2001, but will not be distributed to customers until a majority of the 412/724 numbers are used. PUC data estimates that approximately 58 percent of the 412 telephone numbers and 70 percent of the 724 numbers held by telephone companies have not been assigned to customers.

While the FCC is responsible for regulating the assignment and use of telephone numbers, it has delegated some authority to the PUC regarding area code relief and telephone number conservation measures. Through the use of these number conservation measures, the need to implement more new area codes is decreased.

For recent news releases, or more information about the PUC, visit our Internet homepage: http://puc.paonline.com.