You can weigh in on new 737 area code

AUSTIN (KXAN) - There's been plenty of response since word first leaked that a second area code is in the works for the growing city of Austin.

Anyone who wants to weigh in on the idea can do that Thursday morning at a public Public Utility Commission meeting inside the Commissioners' Hearing Room on the seventh floor of the Travis Building at 1701 North Congress Ave.

The remaining available numbers in the 512 area are expected to run out by late 2013.

Regional growth and added demand has officials exploring the possibility of a new area code for the area that 512 serves.

Officials are asking for the public's feedback on the plan, prompted in an effort to handle growth -- along with the added demand for new wireless phone numbers and business landlines.

What this means for current 512 users

Current customers in the 512 area code will get to keep their 512 numbers, while new ones could be assigned either the 737 or the 512 area code.

All customers would be required to dial 10 digits for all local calls and 11 digits for long distance. The plan calls for a six-month period of either seven- or 10-digit dialing from December 2012 through May 2013.

After that, mandatory 10-digit dialing is set to start in June 2013 -- followed by activation of the 737 area code in July 2013.

Counties the 512 area code currently covers

• Travis
• Williamson
• Hays
• Burnet
• Lampasas
• Caldwell
• Bastrop
• Lee
• Milam
• Mills
• Coryell
• San Saba
• Bell
• Fayette
• Guadalupe
• Comal
• Blanco
• Llano

More information about the meeting

People planning to attend this meeting who have disabilities requiring auxiliary aids or services should notify the Commission as far in advance as possible so that appropriate arrangements can be made.

Requests can be made by mail, telephone or in person to the Commission’s Office of Customer Protection at 1701 North Congress Ave. The phone number is 512-936-7150 or 512-936-7136 for the teletypewriter for the deaf.

People unable to attend the public meeting can contact the PUC by calling 1-888-782-8477 toll-free or by e-mailing the PUC at areacode@puc.state.tx.us.

They can write to the PUC by addressing it to: PUC Office of Customer Protection, P.O. Box 13326, Austin, TX 78711-3326.