845 Area Code About To Run Out Of Phone Numbers

HUDSON VALLEY, NY — The entity that oversees telephone numbers across the continent says the parts of Columbia, Delaware, Dutchess, Greene, Orange, Putnam, Rockland, Sullivan and Ulster counties that are currently covered by the 845-area code are going to run out of numbers by the end of next year.

To relieve the looming shortage, the North American Numbering Plan Administrator filed a petition with the New York State Public Service Commission Nov. 30 about adding a new area code to the mid-Hudson Valley.

Per the petition, all existing wireline and wireless telephone customers in the overlay area would retain their current 845 area code and phone numbers. The new area code would cover requests for new phone numbers.

The petition initially sought approval of the proposed new area code in time to be implemented six months before they run out of numbers in the third quarter of 2024, but changed it to 2023 because requests for new numbers have accelerated.

Now, normally the implementation of a new overlay area code requires concurrent implementation of mandatory 10-digit dialing (the three-digit area code and seven-digit telephone number are required to complete a call) for all calls, whether local or long-distance.

However, customers in the 845-area code already made the transition — in October — to mandatory 10-digit dialing due to the national implementation of the '988' three-digit hotline to reach the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.

Therefore, certain customer education and industry technical milestones will not be needed so the timeline to implement the proposed area code could be shorter than in past overlay code cases, administrators said.

The full text of the petition and the full record of the proceeding may be reviewed online at the Department of Public Service web page: www.dps.ny.gov. The Commission may adopt, reject, or modify, in whole or in part, the action proposed and may resolve related matters.

Want to weigh in? Comments are due March 27.

Ways to Comment: There are several other ways to provide your comments. Comments should refer to 21-C-0600.

Internet or Mail: Go to www.dps.ny.gov, then click on “Search” and enter 21-C-0600 in the “Search by Case Number” field, and then click on “Post Comments” at the top right of the page or send comments by email to the Secretary to the Commission at secretary@dps.ny.gov.
Alternatively, comments may be mailed to the Hon. Michelle L. Phillips, Secretary, New York State Public Service Commission, Three Empire State Plaza, Albany, New York 12223-1350. All written comments will become part of the record considered by the Commission and may be accessed on the Department of Public Service website by searching the case number, as described above, and clicking on the “Public Comments” tab.

Toll-Free Opinion Line: You may call the Opinion Line at 1-800-335-2120. This number is set up to take comments about pending cases from in-State callers, 24-hours a day. These comments are not transcribed verbatim, but a summary is provided to the Commission. All submitted comments should refer to Case 21-C-0600. Although comments will be accepted throughout the pendency of this case, to ensure timely consideration by the parties, public comments are requested by March 27, 2022. The Commission is also considering holding virtual public statement hearings. If hearings are to be held, the dates and times will be announced.