The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission has voted to delay splitting the 16-county area currently using the 717 area code.
The PUC voted 5-0 on Thursday to delay a decision that would split the area and give half of it a new area code.
The PUC says it wants to study an overlay, meaning that all new numbers in the area would get a new area code. That means everybody in the 16-county region would also have to dial 10 numbers -- the area code, plus the seven-digit phone number -- to make calls within those 16 counties.
The PUC is considering the options because the 717 area code is projected to run out of phone numbers in two years.
Copyright AP - Associated Press
