News from the Oklahoma Corporation Commission

News from the Oklahoma Corporation Commission
Matt Skinner, Public Information
Phone: (405) 521-4180, m.skinner@occemail.com
January 4, 2010
NUMBERS, PLEASE
The Oklahoma Corporation Commission moves to keep phones ringing in the 918 area code
with no change in existing numbers
(Oklahoma City) Telephone customers in the 918 area code will not have to worry about
their phone numbers changing because the area is running out of phone numbers. The
Oklahoma Corporation Commission today approved a plan that will prevent so-called
“number exhaust,” while at the same time allowing current residents, businesses, schools
and local governments to keep their existing numbers.
Called an “overlay,” the plan calls for a new area code to be added to the entire existing
918 area code geographic area. There would be no change to existing numbers. Eventually,
all new numbers in the area will get the new area code and after a lengthy transition phase,
all local calls would be 10 digits. There will be no change in local call boundaries, or to
9-1-1 or 2-1-1 services.
Corporation Commission Chairman Bob Anthony says the overlay plan is more equitable
than a “split,” in which the area would be split into two, with one part getting a new area
code.
“The overlay treats all in the area equally. As a Commissioner at the time when the 405
area code was split into 405/580, I well remember the impression it left of „winners and
losers,‟ Anthony said. “The overlay technology was not practical at that time, but it is now,
and I‟m glad we can take advantage of it. It requires uniform treatment of all customers
and will not have any impact on number portability.”
Commission Vice-Chairman Jeff Cloud called an overlay “a cost-effective step toward the
future.”
“An overlay is far less expensive for the phone companies to implement than a split, thus
saving customers millions of dollars. Furthermore, the vast majority of area code changes
in the United States since 2003 have been overlays,” Cloud noted. “Not only does it answer
the question of how to treat all within the existing area code equitably, it also puts the area
on a footing for the future. Many are already using 10 digit dialing as a matter of routine,
and its use is expected to continue to grow. At the same time, businesses and schools with
existing operations in various locations of the 918 area code won‟t have to worry about the
trouble and expense of changing their existing numbers.”
Commissioner Dana Murphy, who supported the split plan, called the “split versus
overlay” a very difficult policy decision.
“I personally made numerous presentations across the 918 area code on this complex issue,
and had OCC staff meet with both state and area officials on this matter. Staff also held
numerous town hall meetings, and the Commission also solicited public opinion both
through our web site and via an 800 number. One thing was made clear: There are many
sharply differing views on how best to handle this issue. There are advantages and
disadvantages to either plan.
“It is my belief that a geographic area code split would be the most
and result in less disruption to the greatest number of customers,”
would keep both equality and consistency between the eastern and
Oklahoma, help rural and urban areas maintain their identities, and
would also allow customers to keep 7 digit dialing for local calls.
consistent approach
Murphy added. “It
western portions of
be less confusing. It
“However, now that the decision for an overlay has been made, we will work diligently to
see this policy implemented in the best way possible.”
There will be no change whatsoever for telephone customers in the 918 area code until
August 7, 2010. At that time, what‟s known as a “permissive calling” period will begin.
Customers will be able to complete a local call within the 918 area code by using 7-digits or
10-digits (area code plus the number). This seven month period will give customers a
chance to become accustomed to the new calling pattern. The permissive dialing period will
end March 5, 2011. The new area code numbers will be available beginning April 1, 2011.
However, new customers could still ask for and be assigned a 918 number, if they are still
available.
After the Commission‟s decision today, the North American Numbering Plan
Administration (NANPA) announced that the new area code will be 539.
NANPA has estimated that the 918 area code will run out of phone numbers in the first
quarter of 2012.
-occ(All OCC advisories and news releases are available at the Commission web site (www.occeweb.com)
EDITORS NOTE: A timetable of the area code changes in Oklahoma, a draft copy of the Order approved today, a map of
the 918 area code, and Commissioner Murphy‟s dissenting opinion are attached.
NPA 918 Rate Center Map
South Bartlett
Bartlett
South
South Elgin
Elgin
South
South Hewins
Hewins
South
Grainola
Grainola
Copan
Copan
Foraker
Foraker
Webb City
City
Webb
Picher
Picher
South Chetopa
ChetopaCommerce
South Edna
Edna South
South
Commerce
South Coffeyville
Coffeyville
South
Wann
Wann
Lenapah
Lenapah
Welch
Welch
Shidler
Shidler
Nowata
Nowata
Barnsdall
Barnsdall
Ralston
Ralston
Hominy
Hominy
Yale
Yale
Grove
Grove
Talala
Talala
Chelsea
Chelsea
Ramona
Ramona
Avant
Avant
Osage
Osage
Sperry
Sperry
Owasso
Owasso
Prue
Prue
Cleveland
Cleveland
Hallett
Hallett
Keystone
Keystone
Jennings
Jennings
Catoosa
Catoosa
Mannford
Mannford
Sand
Springs
Sand
Springs
Tulsa
Tulsa
Oilton
Oilton
Mannford East
East
Mannford
Sapulpa
Sapulpa
Drumright
Drumright
Jenks
Jenks
Bixby North
North
Bixby
Kellyville
Kellyville
Kiefer
Kiefer
Agra
Agra
Salina
Salina
Chouteau
Chouteau
Inola
Inola
Davenport
Davenport
Bristow
Bristow
Westville
Westville
Fort Gibson
Gibson
Fort
Beggs
Beggs
Sparks
Sparks
Muskogee
Muskogee
Boynton
Boynton
Okmulgee
Okmulgee
Castle
Castle
Henryetta
Henryetta
Okemah
Okemah
Stilwell
Stilwell
W. Uniontown
Uniontown
W.
Vian
Vian
Gore
Gore
Warner
Warner
Webbers Falls
Falls
Webbers
Checotah
Checotah
Hitchita
Hitchita
NPA 918
Braggs
Braggs
Keefeton
Keefeton
Council Hill
Hill
Council
Baron
Baron
Tahlequah
Tahlequah
Porter
Porter
Morris
Morris
Watts
Watts
Wagoner
Wagoner
Depew
Depew
Boley
Boley
Flint
Flint
Peggs
Peggs
Cedar Crest
Crest
Cedar
Haskell
Haskell
Stroud
Stroud
Locust Grove
Grove
Locust
Snug Harbor
Harbor
Snug
Coweta
Coweta
Kendrick
Kendrick
Colcord
Colcord
Kansas
Kansas
Bixby
Bixby
Mounds
Mounds
Tryon
Tryon
Disney
Disney
Spavinaw
Spavinaw
Pryor
Pryor
Broken Arrow
Arrow
Broken
Cushing
Cushing
Jay
Jay
West Maysville
Maysville
West
Strang
Strang
Claremore
Claremore
Collinsville
Collinsville
South West
West City
City
South
Ketchum
Ketchum
Adair
Adair
Skiatook
Skiatook
Ripley
Ripley
Tiff City
City
Tiff
Afton
Afton
Ochelata
Ochelata
Wynona
Wynona
Skedee
Skedee
Maramec
Maramec
Wyandotte
Wyandotte
Fairland
Fairland
Vinita
Vinita
Big Cabin
Cabin
Big
Alluwe
Alluwe
Oglesby
Oglesby
Blackburn
Blackburn
Pawnee
Pawnee
West Seneca
Seneca
West
Blue Jacket
Jacket
Blue
Bartlesville
Bartlesville
Pawhuska
Pawhuska
Burbank
Burbank
Fairfax
Fairfax
Miami
Miami
Dewey
Dewey
Delaware
Delaware
Quapaw
Quapaw
Sallisaw
Sallisaw
Muldrow
Muldrow
Moffett
Moffett
Porum
Porum
Stigler
Stigler
Eufaula
Eufaula
Hanna
Hanna
Dustin
Dustin
Keota
Keota
Enterprise
Enterprise
Longtown
Longtown
Canadian
Canadian
Indianola
Indianola
Scipio
Scipio
Quinton
Quinton
Panama
BokoshePanama
Bokoshe
Kinta
Kinta
Wilburton
Wilburton
Cameron
Cameron
McCurtain
McCurtain
Crowder
Crowder
McAlester
McAlester
Spiro
Spiro
Red Oak
Oak
Red
Fanshawe
Fanshawe
Wister
Wister
Stuart
Stuart
Leflore
Leflore
Summerfield
Summerfield
Heavener
Heavener
Hartshorne
Hartshorne
Buffalo Valley
Valley
Buffalo
Ashland
Ashland
Poteau
Poteau
Monroe Howe
Howe
Monroe
New Home
Home
New
Arpelar
Arpelar
Savanna
Savanna
Fort Smith
Smith
Fort
Pocola
Pocola
Kiowa
Kiowa
Talihina
Talihina
Albion
Albion
Muse
Muse
Wardville
Wardville
NPA 918 Map Legend
Clayton
Clayton
Nashoba
Nashoba
NPA
NPA Boundaries
Boundaries
Rate
Rate Center
Center Boundaries
Boundaries
Produced
Produced by
by CDS
CDS Business
Business Mapping,
Mapping, LLC
LLC 01/2008
01/2008
Oklahoma Area Code history
1947 – 405 area code assigned to state of Oklahoma.
1953 – 918 area code assigned to eastern Oklahoma
1997 – Part of the 405 region assigned to 580 area code.
2009 – Plans announced for a fourth Oklahoma area code in the 918 region