Staff Report
TheStatehouseFile.com

 

INDIANAPOLIS – Hoosiers in the 812 area code will have a chance to comment on a request to add a new area code to southern and south-central Indiana.

The telecommunications industry has asked the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission – IURC – for a new area code for the southern portion of the state. The 812 area likely will run out of numbers in 2015 – and it is the last of Indiana’s three original area codes to need a supplementary area code.

Under the proposal from the telecommunications industry, all current customers in the 812 area code would keep their numbers. New customers would get numbers with a new area code. Before long, local calls between the two area codes would require 10-digit dialing. Toll calls still would require a 1 before the area code and number. And existing cell phones and fax machines wouldn’t need to be reprogrammed.

One other option is to do a geographic split.

Under that option, some customers would keep their current numbers. Others wouldn’t. But 7-digit would remain in place. And individuals and organizations with new numbers would have to reprogram cell phones and faxes and buy new signs, business cards and stationery.

The Office of Utility Consumer Counselor is the state agency representing consumer interests before the IURC. The consumer counselor’s office will file its response to the industry proposal on May 15, 2013, and has asked for consumer comments in two ways.

The first is through a series of public hearings in early 2013. To find more information, visitwww.in.gov/oucc/2718.htm.

The second is to send written comments at www.in.gov/oucc/2361.htm or by email, mail or fax. The email address is uccinfo@oucc.in.gov. The fax number is 317-232-5923.

And the mailing address is:

Consumer Services Staff

Indiana Office of Utility Consumer Counselor

115 W. Washington St.

Suite 1500 South

Indianapolis, IN 46204

To be filed with the commission, all comments must arrive by May 7, 2012.

The 812 area code may not be the last one in Indiana to see a change. The 317 area code is projected to run out of numbers in 2016.

TheStatehouseFile.com is a news website powered by Franklin College journalism students.