Press Release

HARRISBURG – The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) today fined Core Communications of Annapolis, Md., $1,000 for failing to provide the PUC with proof that the phone company’s numbers had been assigned to customers. The PUC also directed staff to conduct a further investigation regarding the company’s use of telephone numbers.

In the past year, the PUC issued three orders directing the return of 280,000 phone numbers from Core Communications. These numbers are from the 484, 412 and 724 area codes. The PUC believed the numbers were unassigned to customers because Core failed to respond to the PUC’s requests for information.

When companies fail to respond to PUC inquiries regarding their use of telephone numbers, the PUC’s efforts to lengthen the lives of Pennsylvania’s existing area codes are hindered.

"Core’s failure to verify that it is efficiently using its numbering resources is unacceptable and threatens to undermine all the efforts of this Commission to preserve our area codes," said PUC Commissioner Kim Pizzingrilli.

Until 1993, Pennsylvania had only four area codes. By 1999, five new area codes were added to the Commonwealth. In August 2000, just one month after receiving authority from the FCC to do so, the PUC adopted an order requiring carriers to either verify that numbers in their inventories are assigned to customers or return them to the area code. This process is a vital component of the PUC’s efforts to preserve Pennsylvania’s area codes and because of it approximately 2 million numbers from across the state have been returned.

By opening an investigation into this company’s use of numbering resources, the PUC is using its authority to ensure the longevity of Pennsylvania’s current area codes.