Area Code Relief Proceedings

The North American Numbering Plan (NANP) is the system for assigning telephone numbers within the United States, Canada, Bermuda, and several Caribbean countries. The NANP ensures a standardized and efficient way to assign phone numbers across its geographical area, preventing conflicts and ensuring enough numbers are available amongst the member countries. The NANP divides the territories of its member countries into numbering plan areas (NPAs or area codes). The NANP is administered by the North American Numbering Plan Administrator (NANPA), the neutral, non-governmental entity designated by the Federal Communications Commission to administer area codes and central office codes throughout the United States.

Each telephone number under the NANP consist of ten digits: 

1. three digit area code (NPA);
2. three digit central office code (NXX), and:
3. four digit station number. 

The supply of assignable NXX codes within an NPA is finite, and eventually, will be used up within a given area code. Area code exhaust occurs when all available NXX codes within a specific area code are assigned, leaving no more numbers available for new customers. NANPA produces area code exhaust forecasts every six months as part of it is monitoring of NXX supply and demand.    

Due to the growth in the telecommunications industry, including an increase in the number of providers and types of inter-model communications, the technologies reliant on telephone numbers for consumer purposes have expanded from traditional landline telephones to now include wireless phone service, Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) voice service, tablets, smartphones, interconnected devices, etc.

Area Code Relief Process

When NANPA determines that a New York State area code could run out of assignable NXX codes within the next thirty-six months through its NPA exhaust forecasts, it files a petition for area code relief planning with the Commission on behalf of the telephone industry. Commission action is necessary to ensure the continued availability of telephone numbers in the affected NPA. The Commission's goal is to decide upon a numbering relief plan that provides long-term area code relief while minimizing disruption to consumers and businesses in the area. Following the Commission’s decision, Department Staff is charged with working directly with NANPA and industry to ensure the implementation the new relief plan accomplishes the Commission’s goal.

Area Code Relief Options

For areas where the assignable numbers are forecasted to exhaust and area code relief is needed, the introduction of new area codes is generally provided in two ways, through either an “overlay” or a “geographic split.” In the past 20 years, the Commission has consistently decided in favor of area code overlays to provide area code relief in New York.

Overlay Option

In the overlay option:

• a new area code is superimposed over an existing area code region with the result that two different area codes serve the same region.
• current customers of both wireline or wireless telephone service within the region keep their area code and seven-digit number assigned to them, while customers subscribing to new telecommunication services in the area are assigned telephone numbers under the new area code.
• current customers of both wireline or wireless telephone service within the region keep their area code and seven-digit number assigned to them, while customers subscribing to new telecommunication services in the area are assigned telephone numbers under the new area code.
• all calls within the existing region will require 10-digit dialing, meaning that the three-digit area code plus the seven digit number will always have to be dialed when making a call. For example, anyone calling a number within the region where the new area code has been implemented, including customers assigned to the new area code, must dial the new area code plus the seven-digit number to place the call. Similarly, anyone calling a number using an existing area code, including existing customers, must dial the area code plus the seven-digit number.
• all future area code relief in areas where overlays have been implemented as a means of area code relief, must take the form of another overlay code.

Geographic Split Option

In the geographic split option:

• the existing area code’s territory is divided into two geographic sections.
• in one section of the area, current and new customers would continue to use telephone numbers with the existing area code.
• in the other section of the area, all customers, including those who were previously using the existing area code, would be assigned and required to use the new area code. These customers would retain their seven current digit number – only the area code would change.
• customers in either section of the split would not be required to use 10-digit dialing when making calls within the boundaries of their newly split area code.
• the boundary where the split is made between these two sections will follow the boundaries between existing “rate centers” and may not conform to existing municipal boundaries or physical landmarks meaning a municipality could be split between two area codes. A rate center was originally used to determine local calling areas by the telecommunications industry. Rate centers are useful in this context for providing defined geographic locations for assigned telephone numbers.  

When a petition for area code relief is received, Department staff reviews the petition and identifies options for providing additional telephone number resources for the exhausting NPA. Department staff then seeks public comment on any proposals made. Department staff will also hold information sessions and public statement hearings that interested members of the public can attend to learn more about the area code relief proposals and provide their comments regarding the matter either at that time or through the Department’s website.

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