OMAHA, Neb.—It’s not clear exactly when eastern Nebraska will run out of phone numbers in its 402 area code, but state officials now have a plan to deal with it when it does.
Nebraska’s Public Service Commission has approved a plan to add the new 531 code to the same area currently covered by the 402 code. Current customers won’t have to change their numbers, but people will eventually have to dial 10 digits, including an area code, even when making local calls.
The new area code plan won’t go into effect until 402 runs out of phone numbers, but state officials say it’s hard to predict exactly when that will be because there are so many factors involved.
The latest projection is that the 402 area code will run out of phone numbers in the second quarter of 2011. The state’s 308 area code in western Nebraska isn’t predicted to run out of numbers until the second quarter of 2033.
As cell phone use has become more common, many consumers have forgone pagers and an increasing number of consumers have eliminated landline service at their homes. Those changes have helped ease demand for phone numbers.
State officials have been working hard to conserve numbers that are still available in the 402 area code. For instance, they previously asked phone companies to return unused blocks of phone numbers, so they could be used where they are needed most.
Public Service Commissioner Anne Boyle said it was important to adopt a plan to deal with the new area code now, so that the industry could have time to plan for the switch and develop education materials.
The overlay plan the commission chose was the clear favorite because current customers won’t be forced to switch area codes and possibly phone numbers.
The other alternative would have involved splitting the existing 402 area code into two areas and forcing people who live in the new 531 area to switch.
Commission Chairman Frank Landis said splitting the area code would have been costly for businesses, which would have had to change their signs and marketing materials, and saved numbers would all have to be reprogrammed.
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