The New York State Public Service Commission will hold public statement hearings - including one in Auburn - concerning options for area code relief in the 315 area code region.

The New York State Public Service Commission will move ahead with its plan to assign a new telephone area code for part of the area now using 315.

Because all possible phone numbers within the 315 area are expected to be exhausted by 2010, a new area code needs to be introduced to ensure that consumers throughout central and northern New York are able to get telecommunications services of their choice.

The commission is considering options for geographic splits to divide the 315 area code as well as an overlay plan option that assigns a new area code to the same geographic area currently served by 315.

A geographic split divides the existing 315 code area into two geographic areas, leaving the existing area code in one portion and assigning a new area code to the remaining portion. The geographic split could occur by dividing an area along identifiable jurisdictional, natural, or physical boundaries, such as, county boundaries and bodies of water, or along telephone exchange boundaries.

Each hearing will be preceded by an information session at which staff of the Department of Public Service will describe the proposals and be available to respond to questions. The 315 area code relief proposals can be obtained by visiting askpsc.com.

The local meeting will take place beginning at 6 p.m. Monday, May 12, at the Cayuga County Office Building, sixth floor Legislature chambers, 160 Genesee St.

The public will have an opportunity to present their comments at the hearings before the administrative law judges assigned by the commission to this case. A verbatim transcript of the hearings will be made for inclusion in the record of this proceeding.

It is not necessary to make an appointment in advance or to present written material in order to speak at the public statement hearings. Speakers will be called after completing a card requesting time to speak. The hearings will remain open and will continue until everyone wishing to speak has been heard or other reasonable arrangements are made.

Disabled persons requiring special accommodations may place a collect call to the Department of Public Service's Human Resource 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 to reach the Department of Public Service's Human Resource Office at the previously mentioned number.

In addition to the formal hearings, comments (in English or Spanish) may be mailed to Jaclyn A. Brilling, Secretary, Public Service Commission, Three Empire State Plaza, Albany, New York 12223-1350. Your comments should refer to “Case 07-C-1486 - 315 Area Code.”

Toll-free Opinion Line: Comments may also be submitted through the Commission's Opinion Line at (800) 335-2120. This number is designed to take comments about pending cases from in-state callers, 24 hours a day. Callers should select English or Spanish and press “1” to leave comments about the proposal.

The Internet: Comments may also be submitted via the “PSC Comment Form” in the “Consumer Assistance” file accessed through the Commission's Web site at www.askpsc.com