Area Callers Must Dial '814' Area Code Starting April 3

Morrisons Cove is in a region which will be required to use 10-digit telephone numbers for all telephone calls beginning on Saturday, April 3, 2021.

The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) has encouraged residents and businesses in the current 814 area code, which covers all or parts of 27 counties across Central and Northwestern Pennsylvania, to prepare for the start of mandatory 10-digit dialing.

As of April 3, anyone attempting to make a call in the 814 area code using only seven digits (without dialing the area code) will receive a recorded message prompting them to hang up and redial the call using the full 10-digit number (area code plus seven-digit phone number.

For the last several months, callers across the 814 area code have been able to use 10-digit dialing for local calls to test their devices and prepare for the upcoming changes. But officials say that now is the time for residents and businesses to get ready for the actual change.

Options for numbers

The Pa. PUC stated that the beginning of mandatory 10-digit dialing marks the "next major step" toward the arrival of a new area code of 582, which will eventually serve side-by-side with the current 814 area code.

The 582 area code will be assigned to new telephone numbers once the available supply of numbers in the current 814 area code is exhausted. New area code numbers will not be assigned until available 814 numbers are exhausted, the PUC stated.

The 582 area code designation was selected by the North American Numbering Plan Administrator (NANPA), Somos, Inc., the neutral third-party which administers telephone resources across the United States.

What's happening

"Getting the word out is very important," said Nils Hagen-Frederiksen, press secretary for the PA PUC. "At the PUC, changes to 814 have been discussed for some time. Eight-one-four is one of original four area codes in Pennsylvania, back to 1947. It goes back that far, which is a long time for an area code."

Hagen-Frederiksen said that the PUC has long been concerned about what to do as the supply of telephone numbers runs out. Discussions about solutions began in the early 2000s, he said, as pagers, fax machines, cell phones and computers all began to require unique telephone numbers.

In the 2010s, there was consideration of splitting the 814 area code into two different area codes, as the 717 area code was split several years ago,

The idea of requiring 10-digit dialing instead of an area code split has been done nationally, Hagen-Frederiksen said. Ten-digit dialing provides some relief.

The downside is that it requires the dialing of the full 10-digit number for every telephone call, including the three-digit area code.

The advantage of 10-digit dialing is that it avoids a split of the area code. A split forces some telephone users to adopt a new area code.

"With a split, some people will be forced to change their phone number," Hagen-Frederiksen said. "Half would be assigned new phone numbers. We have found that this is not a popular or an economic way to do things. It generates a lot of expenses, especially for businesses."

Forced by basic math

Hagen-Frederiksen said that the change is forced by simple math: there can only be so many phone number combinations under one area code.

"It's a mathematical issue," he said. "Eventually, with devices all taking on a unique number, you run out of numbers under that area code."

He said that some number combinations are not available. For example, the PUC wants to avoid using numbers involving the 9-1-1 combination, to avoid confusion or mis-dialing of emergency services. The result, he said, is that about 7.9 million to 8 million numbers are available under any one area code.

Another factor, Hagen-Frederiksen said, is that cell phone companies have started allowing people to keep their 814 phone number even if they move out of the 814 area code.

"It used to be that some numbers were released and you could then re-use them after a time," he said. "But now, those numbers are seldom released and can't be re-used."

About the 814/582 Area Code

The 814 area code was established in 1947 and is one of Pennsylvania's four original area codes.

It includes cities such as Altoona, Erie, Johnstown and State College, and covers all or parts of 27 counties, including Armstrong (northeastern portion only); Bedford; Blair; Cambria; Cameron; Centre (majority of the county); Clarion (all except portions of west); Clearfield; Clinton (small portions); Crawford (all except southwestern portion); Elk; Erie; Fayette (small portions); Forest; Fulton (western portions); Huntingdon (except Kishacoquillas Valley); Indiana (northern and eastern portions only); Jefferson; McKean; Mercer (extreme northeastern portion); Mifflin (extreme southwestern corner); Potter; Somerset; Tioga (western portions only); Venango (all except southeastern corner); Warren; and Westmoreland (extreme northeastern corner only).

It is the largest area code in the state and the last to undergo changes because existing phone numbers have been exhausted.

Preparing Your Devices

To begin preparing for 10-digit dialing, the Pa. PUC encourages consumers and businesses to check devices that store telephone numbers – including cell phones and other devices with "speed dial" functions – to be certain that all the stored contacts include the area code. Moving forward, when adding any new numbers to those devices, be sure you include the area code.

The PUC stated that it is essential to double-check devices like medical alert systems, alarms, and any other systems that automatically make calls, to be certain they are set up for 10-digit dialing.

Devices that should be checked to verify they are configured for 10-digit dialing, include:

• Mobile phones, landline phones & tablets and fax machines that can save/store phone numbers.

• Life-safety & medical alert systems.

• Alarm/security systems and security gates.

• Call-forwarding settings and voicemail services.

• Internet dial-up systems.

• Automatic dialing equipment and software.

• Speed-dialers.

• Any other device that can save, store and automatically dial phone numbers.

Consumers or businesses with questions about the compatibility or programming of their devices should contact their equipment or service providers.

Key Dates

To help consumers and businesses in the region adjust to the area code change, the PUC approved a timetable to implement the new overlay:

• Oct. 3, 2020 – Beginning of voluntary 10-digit dialing for calls in the 814 area code.

• April 3, 2021 – 10-digit dialing will be required for all calls.

• May 1, 2021 – The new overlay area code will be placed into service.

New area code numbers will not be assigned until available 814 numbers are exhausted.

The use of an overlay area code preserves existing phone numbers for residents and businesses in the region, while also ensuring that a supply of new numbers will be available after 814 number combinations are no longer available.

The biggest adjustment for residents and businesses across the region is the switch to "10-digit dialing," where callers will be required to dial the area code plus the seven-digit telephone number for all calls.