State Approves Establishment of Second Area Code for Suffolk County

Get your 631 numbers while you can!

The New York State Public Service Commission on Thursday approved the establishment of a second area code for Suffolk County.

After holding several public hearings over the summer, the PSC opted for an “overlay” option instead of a “geographic split” for the new area code, which local telephone companies will be directed to activate before the end of the third quarter of 2016.

Based upon its review, the PSC determined that an overlay is the preferred option because it is easier to implement from a technical standpoint and less expensive from a customer standpoint, especially for business customers who could be forced to change signage and branding in the event of a geographic split, the PSC said in a news release.

An overlay occurs when a new area code is superimposed on an existing calling area, and, by definition, it results in more than one area code serving the same calling area or region. Under an overlay plan, existing telephone numbers remain unchanged, and all new telephone numbers would be assigned the new area code. With an overlay, even calls to a number in the same area code, would not be completed without first dialing the 3-digit area code, and then the 7-digit number (10-digit dialing).

Earlier this year, the North American Numbering Plan Administration (NANPA) informed the PSC that the remaining available central office codes in the 631 area code would all be assigned by the third quarter of 2016.

“The growing proliferation of new telecommunication technologies, multiple household cell phones, and greater use of portable computers, continues to drive demand for new telephone numbers,” PSC Chair Audrey Zibelman said in a statement. “Years ago, most families would have a single telephone number. Today, each household and place of business may use several phone numbers, in addition to the numbers assigned to their landlines and cell service. Given the reality of the way we communicate today, a new area code is needed to expand the numbers that are available.”

The actual three-digit number that will be the new area code will be assigned by NANPA at a later date, according to the PSC.

To implement the overlay alternative, there will be a six-month period for network preparation, followed by a nine-month period for permissive dialing and a one month period of mandatory dialing. This schedule should be sufficient to permit the activation of central office or NXX codes in the new area code in the first quarter of 2016, the PSC said.

Nassau County is expected to run out of 516 numbers in 2019.

What do you think, Kings Park? Do you like your 631 number or would you be happy to switch to a new one? Let us know in the comments section below.

More on Patch:

• Police: Supermarket Employee Exposed Himself to Children, Forced One to Touch Him at Store
• Police: SUV Floats Into Bay After Man Drives Around ‘Road Closed’ Barricades
• ‘Special Delivery’ Thanksgiving Baby Celebrates 1st Birthday
• What You Need to Know to Keep Pets Safe This Winter
• Police ID Man Killed in East Farmingdale Crash
• CBP: Cocaine Smuggled in Baking Ingredients at JFK
• LaunchPad Is One Step Closer to Opening in Great Neck