Suffolk County’s 631 area code is projected to run out of phone numbers in early 2016, so the state Public Service Commission is seeking public comment on whether to institute a second area code in this region as an “overlay” or instead split the county geographically, requiring about half of the current numbers in the 631 area code to adopt a new area code.
The PSC will hold an information forum and take public comments on Tuesday, July 15 at the Riverhead County Center.
If the overlay method is used, the new area code will be opened up throughout the 631 region. All new phone numbers will be assigned the new area code and existing customers, both wireline and wireless, will not be required to change their area codes or seven-digit telephone numbers, according to a “white paper” report issued June 16 by PSC staff. However, customers will be required to dial local phone numbers using 10 digits on all calls, pursuant to current Federal Communications Commission regulations, the report states. In other words, “any call made in the current 631 area would now require dialing an area code,” according to the paper.
If the geographic split is implemented, the existing 631 area code region will be divided into two areas, leaving 631 in one area and a new area code in the other. The split line would run north-south along the western edges of the Smithtown, Central Islip and Islip rate areas. If the geographic split is adopted, customers would not be required to dial 10-digit numbers for local calling. However, customers within the new area code region would be required to adopt the new area code. The white paper does not state which of the two regions would retain the 631 area code, a determination that will be made by the PSC. In addition, wireless customers located in the new area code would have to bring their wireless devices to their service providers for reprogramming with the new area code.
See the white paper, with maps, below.
PSC staff did not make a recommendation on either of the proposed solutions.
The North American Numbering Plan Administrator, which, on behalf of the telecommunications industry, had first petitioned the PSC for a new area code for Suffolk County in 2001, notified the commission in May of the new 2016 projected “exhaust date” for new 631 numbers.
Area code 631 was created in 1999 for Suffolk, as a split from area code 516, which remained in use in Nassau County.
In addition to Tuesday’s forum and public comment period in Riverhead, which begin at 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. respectively, the PSC will hold sessions in Holbrook (Sachem Public Library, July 15, beginning at 6:30 p.m.), Smithtown (William H. Rogers Legislative Building, July 16, 1 p.m.) and Huntington Station (South Huntington Public Library, July 16 6 p.m.)
In addition to the formal hearings, comments may be sent electronically to the PSC secretary, at secretary@dps.ny.gov, or mailed or delivered to Hon. Kathleen H. Burgess, Secretary, Public Service Commission, Three Empire State Plaza, Albany, New York 12223-1350.
Written comments should refer to “Case 14-C-0182 – 631 Area Code Relief.”
Comments may also be submitted through the PSC’s opinion line at 1-800-335-2120. This number is designed to take comments about pending cases from in-state callers, 24 hours a day.
PSC White Paper: 631 Area Code
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