ALBANY — The New York State Public Service Commission (Commission) today announced that the North American Numbering Plan Administrator (NANPA) has assigned a new area code for Central New York.  The new 680 area code will provide additional much-needed phone numbers for residents and businesses in the 18 counties of the existing 315 area code region.  With the addition of the 680 code, there are now 17 area codes in New York State.

Local telephone companies have been directed to activate the new 680 area code by the first quarter of 2017. 

To implement the new overlay area code, there will be a seven-month period for network preparation, followed by an eleven-month permissive dialing period that allows both 7-digit and 10-digit (area code plus 7-digit number) dialing to work.  After this period, 10-digit dialing will be mandatory; and any misdialed calls will trigger a message directing the caller to dial 10 digits.  This schedule should permit the activation of the 680 area code in early 2017.   During the implementation timeframe, the Commission will be conducting outreach to the public to ensure that customers are aware of the area code change and its ramifications.

Earlier this year, NANPA informed the Commission that the 315 area code was projected to have a shortage of available central office codes by no later than the first quarter of 2017.   To provide area code relief as required by federal law, the Commission examined “overlay” and “geographic split” options, and determined that an overlay code was the best option.  An overlay code is easier to implement, less expensive, easier for customers to adapt to, and fairer to all customers. 

The new area code will be overlaid, or superimposed, on the existing 315 calling area, which will result in more than one area code serving the same calling area.   All existing telephone users in the region will retain their entire current phone numbers, including the 315 area code.  Once the new code is activated, new telephone numbers will be assigned to either the 315 or the new 680 area code.  In addition, telephone calls to any number within the region, even with 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).

The geographic area associated with the new 680 area code is located in all or part of 18 counties: Cayuga, Chenango, Cortland, Fulton, Hamilton, Herkimer, Jefferson, Lewis, Madison, Oneida, Onondaga, Ontario, Oswego, Otsego, Saint Lawrence, Seneca, Wayne, and Yates.

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