ALBANY — The New York State Public Service Commission (Commission) will hold virtual public statement hearings on Tuesday, September 13, 2022, to receive public comments regarding a petition filed by the North American Numbering Plan Administrator (NANPA) on June 16, 2022, which requests approval to overlay a new area code within the western portion of New York State currently covered by the 716-area code. The 716-area code serves portions of Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Erie, and Niagara counties.

The petition is based on an initial forecasted projection showing that the current 716-area code will exhaust its supply of available numbers in the second quarter of 2024. An overlay is proposed as relief for the forecasted exhaustion, which means that an additional area code would be used for new telecommunications services throughout the entire geographic area. According to the petition, all existing customers in the overlay area would retain their current 716-area code and telephone numbers, and the new area code would be assigned to new phone numbers once 716 is fully exhausted. Following a nine-month period for customer education and network preparation, implementation is expected to be completed no later than the fourth quarter of 2023.

Department of Public Service Staff will conduct a brief informational presentation and a question-and-answer session before each hearing.

Participants who would like to provide a statement on the record at the hearing must pre-register by 3:00 p.m. on Monday, September 12, 2022. Speakers will be called in the order in which they are registered.

To pre-register electronically: Participants who would like to provide a statement and will log in to a hearing electronically must pre-register by visiting www.webex.com by the date and time indicated above, clicking “Join” at the top right-hand corner of the screen, inputting the appropriate event number listed above, and providing all requested information.

To attend and make a statement electronically: When logging in to a hearing on the appropriate date and time, participants will be asked to “select audio system.” It is recommended that participants select either “call me” or “call using computer.” The “call me” option will require that participants enter their phone numbers.

To pre-register by phone: Any participant who is not able to log in to a hearing electronically may participate by phone. Call-in participants wishing to make a statement at a hearing must pre-register by calling 1-800-342-3330 by the date and time listed above, where they should follow prompts to the appropriate hearing and provide the following information: first and last name, address, and phone number.

To attend and make a statement by phone: On the date and time of the hearing, all call-in users should dial 518-549-0500 and enter the appropriate access code listed above.

All participants will be muted upon entry into the hearing. The ALJ will call each person who has requested to provide a statement to speak. The ALJ will continue the hearing until everyone wishing to speak has been heard or other reasonable arrangements to submit comments into the record have been made. Reasonable time limits may be set for each speaker as necessary to afford all attendees an opportunity to be heard. It is recommended that lengthy comments be submitted in writing and summarized for oral presentation. Verbatim transcripts of the hearings will be made for inclusion in the record of this case.

To listen to the hearings: Pre-registration is not required to listen to a public statement hearing, and any person wishing to listen without making a comment may do so online or by phone. The hearings will be livestreamed on the internet and available for viewing on the Department’s YouTube channel on the date and times listed above. To access the YouTube channel, visit the Department’s website, www.dps.ny.gov, and click on the YouTube icon at the bottom of the homepage. In addition, any person without internet may listen to the hearings by phone by calling the phone access number (518-549-0500) and entering the applicable access code.

Persons with disabilities requiring special accommodations should call the Department’s Human Resources Management Office at 518-474-2520 as soon as possible. TDD users may request a sign language interpreter by placing a call through the New York Relay Service at 711. Individuals with difficulty understanding or reading English are encouraged to call the Department at 1-800-342-3377 for free language assistance services regarding this notice.

Other Ways to Comment: For those who cannot attend or prefer not to speak at a public statement hearing, there are several other ways to provide your comments. Comments should refer to “Case 22-C-0358.” Although comments will be accepted throughout the pendency of this case, they are requested by September 18, 2022, to ensure timely consideration by the Commission.

Internet or Mail: Go to www.dps.ny.gov, click on “Search,” enter “22-C-0358” in the “Search by Case Number” field, and then click on “Post Comments” located at the top right of the page.

Alternatively, comments may be mailed to the Hon. Michelle L. Phillips, Secretary, 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’s website by searching the case number, as described above, and clicking on the “Public Comments” tab.

Toll-Free Opinion Line: Individuals may choose to submit comments by calling the Commission’s Opinion Line at 1-800-335-2120. This number is set up to receive in-state calls 24-hours a day. These calls are not transcribed verbatim, but a summary is provided to the Commission.