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NYC Is Running Out Of Area Codes
By
Jen Chung
Published May 15, 2009
Modified May 15, 2009
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By
Jen Chung
Published May 15, 2009
Modified May 15, 2009
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Move over, 646 and 347—there may be new area codes in town. CityRoom reports that the NY Public Service Commission (the same agency that oversees utilities like Con Ed) has issued a report with two options to deal with the shortage of potential 718 and 347 phone numbers to give out to folks for their cellphones, second cellphones, and whatever other devices. Option 1: "A new area code would be superimposed over the same geographic area covered by the existing 718/347 area codes," which covers all boroughs except Manhattan. Option 2: "A new area code would be superimposed over the same geographic area covered by the existing 718/347 area codes, as well as the area covered by the 212, 646 and 917 area codes," meaning the whole city would get the new area code. The PSC is accepting comments from the public. And apparently the 646 will run out of numbers by 2014! Remember when Elaine Benes tried to explain that it wasn't a NJ area code—"No, it's just like 212 except they multiplied every number by 3… and added 1 to the middle number."
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Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
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