Pocono News Section

New Area Code for Parts of Our Area?

New Area Code for Parts of Our Area? - Friday, July 24, 2009 at 6:05PM EST

Reported by: Eyewitness News
Friday, Jul 24, 2009 @ 06:05pm EST
BERWICK, COLUMBIA COUNTY- Callers may soon have to dial a new area code to reach local phone numbers. That's because administrators say the 570 area code is running out of numbers.

One plan under consideration by the Public Utilities Commission suggests a dividing line through Columbia and Montour counties.

Another plan is to split parts of Carbon, Luzerne, Schuylkill, Susquehanna and Wyoming Counties into two area codes.

The third proposal would assign a new area code to new connections.

Business people in the area say that would be quite a hassle. Mike Miller of Original Italian Pizza said, "I just hope we don't have to get to that point where we can leave everything the same way because then we have to change advertising, menus, you know all the advertising we have through the community of Berwick."

The P. U.C. wants to gather public opinion before making any decision on a new area code.

They say no matter what plan is chosen, calls considered local now would remain local after the change.