MAINE PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION TAKES MAJOR STEP IN THE EFFORT TO PRESERVE MAINE'S SINGLE AREA CODE

November 26, 2024

Hallowell, Maine - The Maine Public Utilities Commission (Commission) approved large-scale rate center consolidation today of Maine's largest telecommunications provider, Consolidated Communications Northern New England Company, LLC. The Commission opened an investigation into the consolidation in January 2023 to determine the feasibility of such an effort, noting that rate center consolidation represented an achievable solution to extend the life of the 207 area code for years to come. Consolidation would combine 135 calling areas into one company-wide rate center. The result would reduce demand for numbering resources and allow telephone providers to utilize more existing resources.

"This is by far the most significant step to date in our efforts to preserve Maines beloved area code," said Chair Philip L. Bartlett II. Previous efforts by the Commission have resulted in an extension of eight years from the predicted exhaust date. This effort could potentially extend that date for decades.

Control of rate centers was originally assigned to what are known as incumbent local exchange carriers, or ILECs. Essentially, ILECs are the historic monopoly providers of land-line telephone service. Each ILECs monopoly service territory consisted of a given number of rate centers and these rate centers constituted the geographic service territory of each ILEC. Each of Maines 249 rate centers is controlled by one of Maines 24 remaining ILECs. Maines largest ILEC is Consolidated. All telecommunications providers, including large wireless providers, can request telephone numbers in any rate center based on the demand.

Maine is not the first state to undergo rate-center consolidation, but this would be the largest consolidation of its kind in the nation and is expected to serve as a model for other states. Consolidation is not expected to be overly burdensome on providers and was determined to be in the public interest. The alternative to rate-center consolidation would be the addition of a new area code.

In October 2019, The North American Numbering Plan Administration (NANPA) told the Commission that Maine would need a new area code by the third quarter of 2024 and that the Commission would need to begin the process of assigning a new area code. Since then, efforts by the Commissions telecommunications division staff successfully extended Maines area code by 12 years, with todays decision expected to extend it even further.

More information can be found on the Commission website at https://mpuc-cms.maine.gov/CQM.Public.WebUI/Common/CaseMaster.aspx?CaseNumber=2023-00009

About the Commission

The Maine Public Utilities Commission regulates electric, telephone, water and gas utilities to ensure that Maine citizens have access to safe and reliable utility service at rates that are just and reasonable for all ratepayers while also helping achieve reductions in state greenhouse gas emissions. Commission programs include Maine Enhanced 911 Service, gas safety and Dig Safe. Philip L. Bartlett, II serves as Chair, Patrick Scully and Carolyn Gilbert serve as Commissioners.

Learn more about the Commission at https://www.maine.gov/mpuc/.

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CONTACT: Susan Faloon, Media Liaison CELL: 207-557-3704 EMAIL: susan.faloon@maine.gov WEBSITE: https://www.maine.gov/mpuc/