Special to The Citizen

AUBURN -- According to the Federal Communications Commission, the 315 area code will run out of numbers by the end of 2010.

Covering a large area of central and northern New York, including Cayuga County, and going as far west as Wayne County and as far north as St. Lawrence County, the 315 area code covers a diverse area.

Trying to find the best way to address this issue, the New York State Public Service Commission (PSC) has been holding public information sessions and hearings to give out information on the issue and hear the concerns of residents.

On Monday night at the Cayuga County Office Building in the County Legislature Chambers, Jeffrey Wagner, utility consumer specialist with the office of consumer services, presented the options that the PSC have created to address the number shortage and to discuss the advantages and disadvantages of each option.

"We're here to educate people about what is going on," Wagner said. "And to hear input from people of the community to decide what the best way to introduce a new area code will be while creating the least disruption for people."

According to the PSC, area codes were introduced in 1947 to allow for direct dialing without the assistance of an operator.

Until 1985, there were seven area codes that covered New York, now there are 14. This is because of the proliferation of cellular technology, fax machines, pagers and businesses and residences that have multiple lines.

According to FCC regulations, it is not allowable to assign area codes to cellular or service-specific technology as this would be anti-competitive and would still not address number shortages in an area code.

Wagner explained that it is the three digits that follow the area code, known as central office code, such as 252 or 253 for example, that are running out within the area code.

To read the full report see Tuesday's edition of The Citizen