The State Corporation Commission has set four local hearings in August to receive public comments on a proposed solution for resolving the exhaustion of available phone numbers in the 757 area code.

The North American Numbering Plan Administrator, filed an application with the SCC to begin the exhaust relief planning process. According to NANPA, subscriber growth and the expanding number of devices requiring phone numbers eventually exhausts the numbers available within an area code. The 757 area code was created in 1996, splitting off from the 804 area code, which was nearing exhaustion at that time.

In this case, NANPA is recommending an all-services overlay as the solution for 757 area code exhaust. Under this plan, a new area code would be assigned to the existing 757 area code region once all available numbers are exhausted. Those who currently have a 757 area code number would experience no area code change. Although the proposed plan would require 10-digit dialing for local calls, it is the least disruptive option.

To allow for ample public opportunities to comment, the SCC has scheduled the following public hearings to receive comments from residents in the affected area code:

• Aug. 12 at 6:30 p.m. in the Board of Supervisors Room at the Southampton County Administration Building, 26022 Administration Center Drive, Courtland
• Aug. 20 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m., in the Board of Supervisors Room of the James City County Government Center, Building F, 101 Mounts Bay Road, Williamsburg
• Aug. 21 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m., in Chesapeake City Council Chambers at the City Hall Building, 306 Cedar Road, Chesapeake
• Aug. 22 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m., in the Board of Supervisors Chambers in the Accomack County Administration Building, 23296 Courthouse Ave., Accomac

The hearing will continue in Richmond on Sept. 17 at 10 a.m. in the Commission’s second-floor courtroom located in the Tyler Building at 1300 E. Main St.

Any person wishing to comment at any of the hearings should arrive early and sign in. The SCC will webcast an audio stream of the Richmond hearing. Instructions for listening to the proceeding can be found online at www.scc.virginia.gov/case/webcast.aspx.

Written comments on the case must be submitted by Sept. 10 and be sent to the Clerk of the State Corporation Commission, Document Control Center, P.O. Box 2118, Richmond, VA 23219-2118. Refer to case number PUR-2019-00059 when commenting. Individuals may also submit comments online at www.scc.virginia.gov/case/PublicComments.aspx. Find case number PUR-2019-00059, and click on the “Submit Comments” button for this case.