HARRISBURG, PA — The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) announced on March 28 that the permissive dialing period has begun for residential and business customers within the existing 570 area code.

During the permissive dialing period, callers can begin using 10 digits each time they place a call from the 570 area code. However, if a caller dials just seven digits, the call will still be completed. Beginning September 21, the mandatory dialing period commences in the 570 area code. During the mandatory dialing period, all calls must be made using the area code plus the seven-digit number. If only the seven-digit telephone number is dialed, customers will reach a recorded announcement stating they must hang up and redial the number using the area code plus the seven-digit number. This recording will be available permanently.

Because of the decreasing amount of available 570 numbers, a new 272 area code will be added to the 570 area code region. Beginning October 21, customers in the 570 area code region requesting new service, or an additional line may be assigned a number in the new 272 area code.

When introducing a new area code, there is an adjustment period commonly known as a permissive dialing period, which commences approximately six months before the new area code becomes effective. During the permissive dialing period, customers may reach numbers in the current area code by either dialing ten or seven digits. At the end of the permissive period, all calls require ten-digit dialing to be completed.