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PSC Moves Forward: Second Area Code Coming For The 850
September 8, 2019
The Florida Public Service Commission on Friday heard a plan to add a new area code for Northwest Florida.
The current 850 area code is running out of available phone numbers, and an additional area code would be added under the plan.
The North American Numbering Plan Administrator, which oversees area code planning across the nation, said the 850 area code will run out of available photo numbers in the first quarter of 2022. They have petitioned the Florida Public Service Commission for a new area code that will overlay the existing 850 area code.
An additional area code would be expected to provide enough available phone numbers until 2049.
If approved the new area code would cover the same area as the current 850 area code, which includes Escambia County to Tallahassee.
The new area code would go into service in 2021, with a transition period before the 850 runs out of numbers. The addition will require 10-digit dialing in all of Northwest Florida .
All existing customers will retain the 850 area code and would not have to change their telephone numbers, according to the PSC.
The PSC will consider final approval in November, and we should learn what the new area code number will be at that time.
Comments
8 Responses to “PSC Moves Forward: Second Area Code Coming For The 850”
All of the contact numbers stored in my cell phone have area codes, including the 850 area code numbers, so I guess my phone has been dialing 10 numbers every time I make a call, even for local numbers. I always include the area code when I also manually dial a new local number, so I guess it wouldn’t be any change for me.
Wish i had my old Pink Princess Dial Phone back. I didnt get any RoBo calls on it.
Change. Always causes turmoil and confusion for some. Loved by some, hated by many.
@ A Alex
Reading the article above you’ll find:
“All existing customers will retain the 850 area code and would not have to change their telephone numbers, according to the PSC.”
That means to take from an EX president, “if you like your current phone number, you can keep your current phone number”.
New phone numbers would be assigned the New Area Code Number.
Current numbers have been gobbled up quickly by people having a huge number of cellphones, home/office security systems, and many other uses other than making a call.
Alex A: Actually overlaying a new code makes more sense. Imagine the cost to business for getting new cards printed, new car wraps on a fleet of vehicles, alerting out of if state customers, etc of a new area code. It’s easier for consumers to be doubly inconvenienced by adding three digits when they call someone.
William, I find it interesting you using a picture if what would now be considered a antique phone, ( Iam in my early 40s) but a lot of younger people today probably don’t know how to use a phone like that. I saw a video clip awhile back of I think it was a couple high school age boys trying to figure out how to dial on one like this and they couldn’t figure out how to make it work. Times have changed!!
Ha!, some of y’all got to get new tattoos.
Why not leave Okaloosa,Santa Rosa and Escambia as one area code and east of Okaloosa as another!!!!! Oh, that would make more sense Florida