FREE TRAINING SEMINAR: Potential New Area Code - Impact on Businesses

The Kentucky Public Service Commission has opened a proceeding that will lead to the creation of a new area code in all or a portion of the current area code 270. The PSC will consider two options for creating the new area code. A telecommunications industry group has recommended an overlay, which would create a second area code – 364 - in the same territory now covered by area code 270. The second option is a split, which would assign area code 364 to a portion of the current area code 270 territory. An overlay would permit retention of all current 270 numbers, but would require 10-digit dialing for local calls. A split would retain seven-digit dialing for local calls, but would require both wireless and landline customers within about half the current area code to change their phone numbers. The PSC’s presentation will review the reason a new area code is needed soon, the history of area code 270, the advantages and disadvantages of the overlay and split options and the PSC’s process for reaching a decision.