NYC Outer Boroughs Assigned A New Area Code (929)

 

**Updated as of 4/14/2011**

Beginning on April 16, 2011, a new area code (929) will be assigned to the area currently served by the 718 and 347 area codes, which is geographically the outer boroughs of New York City -- namely the Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens and Staten Island. The dialing pattern, which is already in effect in the New York City area, requires all local calls within and between the 718 and 347 area codes and the new 929 area code to be dialed by using 1+10 digit dialing. Existing 718 and 347 telephone numbers will not change.

The reason for the new area code was because numbering resources in the 718 and 347 area codes were forecasted to exhaust by 2012.  As a result, the PSC directed all local exchange service providers to activate the new 929 area code to ensure the availability of numbering resources in a manner that is most efficient and least confusing for consumers, while minimizing possible disruption to consumers and businesses.

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On December 16, 2009, the New York State Public Service Commission (Commission) directed Verizon New York Inc., and all other carriers providing local exchange service in the 718/347 area of New York City to activate a new area code for this service area.

The goal of long-term area code relief is to balance the provision of additional telephone numbering resources while minimizing possible disruption to consumers and businesses. With the introduction of a new area code, in tandem with a comprehensive outreach and education program for consumers, the overlay plan adopted by the Commission today for the Outer Boroughs of New York City is the least confusing for consumers and the most efficient option for the industry to implement area code relief.

Under the overlay plan, which is being done in cooperation with the federal North American Numbering Plan Code Administrator (NANPA), an all-services distributed overlay would be implemented to ensure the continued availability of telephone numbers in the area currently served by the 718 and 347 area codes.

A new area code will be assigned to the Boroughs of the Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens and Staten Island, which are served by the existing 718 and 347 area codes. All local calls within and between the 718 and 347 area codes and the new area code would continue to be dialed by using 1+10 digit dialing. The actual three-number area code was assigned by NANPA on January 9, 2010, and publicly announced in a press release on January 22, 2010.

An overlay occurs when a new area code is superimposed on an existing calling area which results in more than one area code serving the same calling area or region. As noted above, with an overlay, calls would not be completed without first dialing 1, plus the 3-digit area code, and then the 7-digit number. This dialing pattern is already in effect in the New York City area. Also, under an overlay plan, all existing telephone numbers remain unchanged, while new telephone numbers would be assigned the new area code.

For more information regarding the Commission's written decision on the new area code, you can visit the Department website at www.dps.ny.gov, and go to the Commission Document Section or Press Releases and search for Case Number 09-C-0058.  The background information on this case is below: 

A summary of the case is available in the case fact sheet or you can access the 09-C-0058 case file for case related documents.