Virtual Public Statement Hearings Set Regarding New Area Code Proposed Portions New York City

ALBANY - The New York State Public Service Commission (Commission) will hold two virtual public statement hearings on Tuesday, October 1, 2024, to receive comments regarding a petition filed on May 22, 2024, by the North American Numbering Plan Administrator (NANPA) on behalf of the New York telecommunications industry for relief of the 347/718/917/929 numbering plan area (NPA).

In the petition, NANPA seeks authorization to overlay a new telephone area code within the NPA, which includes the Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island, and the Marble Hill section of Manhattan. NANPA seeks approval of the proposed new area code in time for it to be implemented six months prior to the NPA's currently projected exhaust date, which is the fourth quarter of 2026. Per the petition, all existing wireline and wireless telephone customers in the overlay area would retain their current 10-digit telephone numbers (area code plus seven-digit telephone number) and the new area code would be assigned in response to requests for new phone numbers after the 347/718/917/929 area codes are fully exhausted.

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that virtual public statement hearings will be held before Administrative Law Judges (ALJs) Nicholas Planty and James Costello on:

Department of Public Service staff will conduct a brief informational presentation before each hearing.

Those wishing to comment on any aspect of this proceeding will have the opportunity to make a statement on the record at the virtual public statement hearings.

To participate electronically:

This option is for participants who would like to make a statement and who will log in to a hearing electronically. Such participants may log in at the date and time indicated above by visiting www.webex.com, clicking "Join a Meeting" at the top right-hand corner of the screen, entering the appropriate meeting number and meeting password (listed above), clicking "Join Meeting", and providing all requested information.

When logging in on the date and time of the hearing, participants will be asked to "select audio system." It is recommended that participants opt to have the system "call me" or "call using computer." The "call me" option requires participants to enter their phone numbers.

To participate by phone:

This option is for participants who would like to make a statement but who will not be logging in electronically. On the date and time of the hearing, call-in participants should dial 518-549-0500 and enter the appropriate access code and password listed above.

To listen to the hearing without making a statement:

To listen to a hearing by phone, call 518-549-0500 and enter the appropriate access code and password listed above.

All participants will be muted upon entry into the hearing. The ALJs will call upon each person who has asked to make a statement when it is their turn to speak. The ALJs will continue the hearing until everyone wishing to speak has been heard or other reasonable arrangements to submit comments into the record have been made. Reasonable time limits may be set for each speaker as necessary to afford all attendees an opportunity to be heard. It is recommended that lengthy comments be submitted in writing and summarized for oral presentation. Verbatim transcripts of the hearings will be made for inclusion in the record of this case.

Persons with disabilities requiring special accommodations should call the Department's Human Resources 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. Individuals with difficulty understanding or reading English are encouraged to call the Department at 1-800-342-3377 for free language assistance services regarding this Notice.

Other Ways to Comment:

For those who cannot attend or prefer not to comment at the virtual public statement hearings, there are several other ways to provide your comments. All comments should refer to Case "24-C-0314" and must be submitted no later than October 8, 2024.

Internet or Mail: Go to www.dps.ny.gov, click on "File Search" (located under the heading "Commission Files"), enter "24-C-0314" (in the box labeled "Search by Case Number"), and then click on "Post Comments" at the top of the page.

Alternatively, comments may be mailed to the Hon. Michelle L. Phillips, Secretary, Public Service Commission, Three Empire State Plaza, Albany, New York, 12223-1350. All written comments will become part of the record considered by the Commission and may be accessed on the Department's website by searching the case number, as described above, and clicking on the "Public Comments" tab.

Toll-Free Opinion Line: Individuals may submit comments by calling the Commission's Opinion Line at 1-800-335-2120. This number is set up to receive in-state calls 24 hours a day. These comments are not transcribed verbatim, but a summary is provided to the Commission.

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