PUC OKs new area code for part of the state

The Portland Tribune, Oct 21, 2008, Updated Oct 30, 2009

Courtesy of PUC

The new area code that begins in 2010 would cover the 541 region.

Oregon is about to get its fourth area code.

The state Public Utility Commission agreed Tuesday to adopt a 458 area code overlay in the 541 area, which covers most of Southern and Eastern Oregon.

Under the plan, by 2010, most new telephone numbers in those parts of the state will have the 458 area code instead of 541. That should keep the state from running out of available phone numbers for another 24 years.

The overlay is similar to the 971 area code that has been part of the 503 area since 1995. The North American Numbering Plan Administration, a neutral third-party administrator that oversees the assignment of area codes, assigned the new area code.

“After weighing the options, we believe this solution is the least disruptive option and will meet the demand for new telephone numbers more than 20 years into the future,” said PUC Chairman Lee Beyer. “I’m confident customers will have enough time to make any programming changes before the new area code takes effect.”

The commission acted because projections showed that Oregon could run out of telephone numbers in the 541 area code by 2011.

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