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New Area Code Approved For Southeastern Ohio
< < Back to new-area-code-approved-southeastern-ohioThe Public Utilities Commission of Ohio has approved a plan to overlay a new area code, 220, into southeastern Ohio beginning in 2015.
Beginning September 24, 2014, a 6-month grace period will begin where any local call can be completed using either 7 or 10 digits.
All calls will require 10-digit dialing beginning March 21, 2015.
As previously reported, the commission could have decided to split the area, with one section keeping the 740 and the other receiving a new area code.
“The Commission weighed the input received from the public and from the Ohio telecommunications industry and has determined the overlay plan as the least disruptive and fair – treating all existing 740 customers equally by allowing current customers to retain the 740 area code on all existing lines," said PUCO Chairman Todd A. Snitchler.
The North American Numbering Plan Administrator projected the 740 area code would run out of available numbers by mid-2015.
Over 900 people submitted comments to the commission with approximately 70 percent of people of those in favor of the overlay plan.