ALBANY — State regulators are taking public comment on a plan to add a new so-called “overlay” telephone area code for the region now covered by 315 numbers.

The plan was recommended to the state Public Service Commission by an administrative law judge.

The PSC may approve, reject or modify the proposal.

The recommendation concludes that the overlay represents the fairest solution for relieving a coming shortage of phone numbers in the 315 area.

An overlay allows all existing telephone customers to keep their current 10-digit numbers. The PSC says it expects to be out of phone numbers in the 315 region by late 2010.

The 315 area includes all or parts of 18 counties.

The agency is taking public comments until Dec. 31.