Area code squeeze points to growth

DINGMAN — The 570 area code is running out, the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission says. As of Sept. 21, callers must first dial 570, then the usual phone number.

Dingman supervisors discussed the new 10-digit phone dialing requirement at their Sept. 3 meeting, and its indication that population is growing in the area. New telephone lines may be assigned a new 272 area code, they said.

According to Verizon, the area code overlay, as it is called, is needed to ensure a continuing supply of telephone numbers. The new dialing protocol will cover areas as far away as Scranton, Wilkes Barre, Williamsport, and all of northeastern Pennsylvania.

The new requirement will affect all services and automatic dialing equipment, such as life safety systems, fax machines, Internet dial up numbers, alarm systems, gates, speed dialers, mobile phone contact lists, call forwarding settings, voice mail services, and similar functions.

A call without the 10-digit number will not be completed after Sept. 21. A recording will instruct the caller to hang up and dial again.