06/01/2018

PUCO Approves Overlay Plan as 937 Area Code Runs Out of Numbers

The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio recently approved a plan to overlay a new area code over the existing 937 area code. The 937 area code is expected to run out of available phone numbers in the third quarter of 2020, according to the North American Numbering Plan Administrator (NANPA). All current 937 area code subscribers will continue to maintain their current number and 937 area code.

“While we are still years away from the projected exhaust date, it’s important for the telecom industry to begin planning now so that the roll out of a new area code can go as smoothly and seamlessly as possible, just like previous area code additions,” PUCO Chairman Asim Z. Haque said in a release.

The commission directed the telecommunications industry to file an implementation and communications plan with the PUCO. The plans should indicate when the overlay should take effect, and include any communications the companies will use to notify their customers.

Upon implementation of the overlay, all new phone subscribers will be assigned the new yet-to-be-determined area code. Additionally, all local calls will require dialing the full 10-digit phone number in order to complete local calls.

Following the approval of an overlay plan, NANPA will assign the new, yet-to-be-determined area code to co-exist with the existing geographical boundaries of the 937 area code.

Additional information regarding area code exhaust and maps of Ohio’s area code boundaries can be found on the PUCO website at http://tinyurl.com/ydelah5j .
Story originally published in The Hannah Report on May 30, 2018.  Copyright 2018 Hannah News Service, Inc.