News from New York State Public Service Commission

For more information contact: James Denn, 518-474-7080

PSC Seeks Comment On 315 Area Code Relief Plan

ALBANY, NY (04/24/2008; 1520)(readMedia)-- The New York State Public Service Commission will hold public statement hearings concerning options for area code relief in the 315 area code region. Each hearing will be preceded by an information session at which Staff of the Department of Public Service will describe the proposals and be available to respond to questions. The 315 area code relief proposals can be obtained by visiting the Commission’s www.AskPSC.com consumer Web site.

Currently there are only 136 central office codes remaining available to assign to telecommunications carriers in the more than 100 specific geographic areas or rate centers in area code 315. These central office codes can only be used in the specific rate center they are assigned. It is expected that all the remaining unused central office codes will be assigned by late 2010. To ensure that all consumers throughout Central and Northern New York are able to obtain telecommunications service of their choice, a new area code needs to be introduced.

The Commission’s goal is to develop a plan that minimizes disruption to customers while ensuring availability of telephone numbers beyond 2010 in that region.

Public statement hearings concerning 315 area code relief proposals will be held as follows:

Thursday, May 1, 2008 11:00 a.m. Educational Forum 12:00 p.m. Public Statement Hearing Civic Center – Community Room Park St., Potsdam, NY

Thursday, May 1, 2008 6:00 p.m. Educational Forum 7:00 p.m. Public Statement Hearing State Office Building Auditorium 317 Washington St., Watertown, NY

Friday, May 2, 2008 11:00 a.m. Educational Forum 12:00 p.m. Public Statement Hearing Lowville Town Hall 5533 Bostwick St., Lowville, NY

Monday, May 5, 2008 11:00 a.m. Educational Forum 12:00 p.m. Public Statement Hearing Herkimer Co. Dept. of Social Services Training Center 301 North Washington St., 2nd Floor Herkimer, NY

Monday, May 5, 2008 6:00 p.m. Educational Forum 7:00 p.m. Public Statement Hearing Utica City Hall Common Council Chambers 1 Kennedy Plaza, Utica, NY

Tuesday, May 6, 2008 11:00 a.m. Educational Forum 12:00 p.m. Public Statement Hearing Rome City Hall Common Council Chambers, 2nd Floor 198 North Washington St., Rome, NY

Wednesday, May 7, 2008 11:00 a.m. Educational Forum 12:00 p.m. Public Statement Hearing Oswego City Hall Common Council Chambers 13 West Oneida St., Oswego, NY

Wednesday, May 7, 2008 6:00 p.m. Educational Forum 7:00 p.m. Public Statement Hearing Old Courthouse, Supervisor’s Chamber 26 Church St., Lyons, NY

Thursday, May 8, 2008 11:00 a.m. Educational Forum 12:00 p.m. Public Statement Hearing Seneca County Office Building Supervisor’s Board Room, 2nd Floor 1 DiPronia Dr., Waterloo, NY

Thursday, May 8, 2008 6:00 p.m. Educational Forum 7:00 p.m. Public Statement Hearing Yates County Building Auditorium – Basement 417 Liberty St., Penn Yan, NY

Monday, May 12, 2008 6:00 p.m. Educational Forum 7:00 p.m. Public Statement Hearing County Legislative Office Building 6th Floor Chambers 160 Genesee St., Auburn, NY

Tuesday, May 13, 2008 11:00 a.m. Educational Forum 12:00 p.m. Public Statement Hearing City Hall Common Council Chambers, 3rd Floor 233 E. Washington St., Syracuse, NY

Tuesday, May 13, 2008 6:00 p.m. Educational Forum 7:00 p.m. Public Statement Hearing Syracuse Library at Galleries 447 S. Salina St., Syracuse, NY

Wednesday, May 14, 2008 11:00 a.m. Educational Forum 12:00 p.m. Public Statement Hearing The Greater Oneida Kallet Civic Center 159 Main St., Oneida, NY

The public will have an opportunity to present their comments at the hearings before the Administrative Law Judges assigned by the Commission to this case. A verbatim transcript of the hearings will be made for inclusion in the record of this proceeding.

It is not necessary to make an appointment in advance or to present written material in order to speak at the public statement hearings. Speakers will be called after completing a card requesting time to speak. The hearings will remain open and will continue until everyone wishing to speak has been heard or other reasonable arrangements are made.

Disabled persons requiring special accommodations may place a collect call to the Department of Public Service’s Human Resource Management Office at (518) 474-2520 as soon as possible. TDD users may request a sign language interpreter by placing a call through the New York Relay Service at 711 to reach the Department of Public Service’s Human Resource Office at the previously mentioned number.

Other Ways to Comment

In addition to the formal hearings, comments (in English or Spanish) may be mailed to Jaclyn A. Brilling, Secretary, Public Service Commission, Three Empire State Plaza, Albany, New York 12223-1350. Your comments should refer to “Case 07-C-1486 – 315 Area Code.”

Toll-free Opinion Line: Comments may also be submitted through the Commission’s Opinion Line at 1-800-335-2120. This number is designed to take comments about pending cases from in-state callers, 24 hours a day. Callers should select English or Spanish and press “1” to leave comments about the proposal.

The Internet: Comments may also be submitted via the “PSC Comment Form” in the “Consumer Assistance” file accessed through the Commission’s Web site at www.AskPSC.com. Many libraries offer free Internet access.

All statements and comments received by the Administrative Law Judge and the Commission will be placed in the public case file and made available for public inspection in the Commission’s file room in its Albany offices, Central Files, 14th floor, Three Empire State Plaza.

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