Suffolk County’s 631 area code may run out of assignable telephone numbers by as early as 2016, officials say. And the New York State Public Service Commission wants the public to weigh in on possible options during the week of July 11 at four scheduled hearings and forums throughout the county.
The commision says there are generally two options to provide relief. An overlay option uses a new code throughout the entire geographic area for all new telecommunications services, while existing phone numbers generally are not affected. The other option is a geographic split of the existing area code.
If you'd like to weigh in, there are four separate public statement hearings in Riverhead, Holbrook, Smithtown, and Huntington Station, where you can speak your mind.
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Prior the hearings, staff members from the Department of Public Service will describe the proposed options and answer questions.
Hearings are scheduled for:
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Tuesday, July 15: Riverhead County Center at the Maxine S. Postal Auditorium, Evans K. Griffing Building, 300 Center Drive, Riverhead, 1 p.m.: Informational Forum 2 p.m.: Public Statement Hearing
Tuesday, July 15: Sachem Public Library, 150 Holbrook Road, Holbrook, 6:30 pm: Informational Forum, 7:30 pm: Public Statement Hearing
Wednesday, July 16: William H. Rogers Legislative Building, Legislative Auditorium, 725 Veterans Memorial Highway, Smithtown, 1 p.m. Informational Forum, 2 p.m. Public Statement Hearing
Wednesday, July 16: South Huntington Public Library Meeting Room, 145 Pidgeon Hill Road, Huntington Station, 6 p.m. Informational Forum, 7 p.m.: Public Statement Hearing
Disabled persons requiring special accommodations can call the Department of Public Service’s Human Resources Management Office collect at (518) 474-2520. TDD users may also use that number to request a sign language interpreter by placing a call through the New York Relay Service at 711 to reach the Department of Public Service’s Human Resource Office.
Email comments to secretary@dps.ny.gov, or send comments to Hon. Kathleen H. Burgess, Secretary, Public Service Commission, Three Empire State Plaza, Albany, New York 12223-1350. Include “Case 14-C-0182 - 631 Area Code Relief” in the comments.
A toll-free option is also available by calling 1-800-335-2120.
To learn more, view visit the Commission’s website, and search for case number 14-C-0182.
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