Maine’s 207 area code gets another reprieve
Just a few years ago, the Maine Public Utilities Commission projected the supply of unused phone numbers with the state’s 207 area code would run out in 2025.
Last year, that projection was extended to 2036.
Now the state’s single area code is expected to last until the first quarter of 2045, according to an updated forecast by the North American Numbering Plan Administrator.
The commission said 207’s resilience is due to its ongoing efforts to delay the need for a second area code in the state.
“This extension gives us nearly 20 more years before a second area code could be necessary,” said Philip Bartlett, who chairs the regulatory body.
The plan administrator attributes the revised projection to reduced historical and projected demand for new numbers.
The Maine PUC credits its code conservation strategies, which have included regular engagement with telecommunications carriers to prevent unnecessary release of central office codes, which are limited blocks of numbers within an area code.
PUC staff have worked with providers to identify alternative numbering solutions, thereby maximizing existing resources and reducing demand for 207 numbers, according to a news release.
Also contributing to the extension, the commission said, is pending implementation of rate center consolidation — a practice that merges multiple geographic areas for numbering purposes.
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