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This proceeding aims to determine the best area code option for the Northern and Central New York region, with the goal of providing long-term relief and minimum disruption to residents. The two options being considered are an overlay plan and a geographic split. The overlay option would superimpose a new area code over the entire region, allowing existing customers to keep their current 315 area code. The geographic split option would divide the current 315 area code into two zones, with existing customers retaining their current telephone numbers. Both options have advantages and disadvantages that need to be considered. This decision will comply with federal guidelines and will have no effect on monthly telephone rates or local call rates. All currently assigned telephone numbers will remain the same under either option. Additional information on how to comment on the proceeding is provided. The Commission is expected to make a decision later this year.
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NEW YORK STATEPUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION315 AREA CODE CASE 07-C-1486
THE GOAL OF THIS PROCEEDING • Provide long term area code relief • Provide relief with the least possible disruption to people in Central and Northern New York
THE ISSUE TO BE DECIDED Which of the area code options will be best for the Northern and Central New York Region? • Overlay Plan • Geographic Split
Your Telephone Number 315 - NXX - 1234
OVERLAY OPTION • A new area code would be superimposed over the entire region • All existing customers would keep their current 315 area code and seven digit telephone number • New telephone numbers would be assigned either a 315 area code or the new area code
OVERLAY OPTION ADVANTAGES • Avoids any change in the current area code for existing customers • Can be easily repeated in the future as needed • Spares thousands of wireless customers from having their equipment reprogrammed
OVERLAY OPTION DISADVANTAGES • 1+10 Digit Dialing would be required for ALL calls • An area code must be used to complete ALL calls
GEOGRAPHIC SPLIT OPTION • The current 315 area code would be divided into two zones • One zone would retain the 315 area code, the other zone would get the new area code • All existing customers would retain their current seven digit telephone number • As part of its consideration of this option, the PSC will decide which zone will retain the 315 area code
GEOGRAPHIC SPLIT OPTION ADVANTAGES • Retains the familiar identification between a locale and its area code • People would continue to dial seven digits within their home area code
GEOGRAPHIC SPLIT OPTION DISADVANTAGES • Approximately half of the currently-assigned telephone numbers belonging to the estimated 1.5 million population - including numerous businesses - in the 315 area code region would be required to adopt a new area code • Businesses in the region with the new area code would have to change advertising and other information which contains their telephone number • Thousands of wireless customers in the zone with the new area code would have to have their cellular phones and pagers reprogrammed to receive phone calls
FEDERAL GUIDELINES TO BE MET Area Codes can not be technology or service specific: • Cell phones, pagers and modems cannot have a separate area code • An area code cannot be designed solely for business or residential customers (or any customer class)
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION • A new area code will haveno effect on your monthly telephone rates or your local call rates • All currently assigned seven-digit telephone numbers will stay the same under either of the options • An Administrative Law Judge has been assigned to receive all comments and present them to the Commission for their consideration
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION • The Commission is expected to make a decision later this year • The Commission will direct the telephone companies who provide local service in the region to educate its customers about the change and the new dialing patterns • The North American Numbering Plan Administrator selects the new area code from the remaining supply
NUMBER CONSERVATION MEASURES • Allocating telephone numbers to carriers in blocks of 1,000 through use of number pooling rather than the prior practice of 10,000 • Continuing reclamation of unused 10,000 number codes and 1,000 number blocks
WAYS TO COMMENT • Toll-Free Opinion Line: 1-800-335-2120 • Web Site: www.AskPSC.com • In Writing: • The Honorable Jaclyn Brilling • Secretary to the Commission • NYS Public Service Commission • 3 Empire State Plaza • Albany, New York 12223-1350 • Public Statement Hearings Comments should be received by May 23, 2008. Please include that your comments concern the 315 area code proceeding.