‘THE SENATE, cuAIR STATE OF NEW YORK ‘SENATE AGRICULTURE COMMITTEE ‘COMMITTEES. ALCOHOUSM 6 DRUG ABLE ey CIVIL SERVICE & PENSIONS CRIME VICTIMS, CRIME & CORRECTION SEEM OST CULTURA APPIN, TURES PARIS CSWECO.EFFERSON, ST LAWRENCE COUNTIES RECREATION [ENERGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS -PNANCE tcHeR EDUCATION Local COWERNMENT "TRANSPORTATION MEMBER ane LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION ON TURAL RESOURCES Hon. Audrey Zibelman, Chair SELECT COMMITTEE ON LIBRARIES NYS Public Service Commission Department of Public Service Three Empire State Plaza Albany, New York 12223-1350 Re: Case 07-C-1486, 315 Area Code Relief Dear Chair Zibelman and Commissioners: Lam once again writing to urge the Commission to delay action on the above proceeding concerning the future of the 315 area code. I recently undertook an informal survey of constituents in my district, which includes more than 4,250 square miles that for nearly 70 years have been part of the 315 area code. It’s the opinion of the overwhelming number of these consumers that the PSC should not create a new area code for this region. According to the survey, nearly three-quarters indicated that a new code would be personally inconvenient to them or their families, and 64 percent said they believed it would create an added expense for businesses in the region. ‘The survey also asked, if the PSC must act, which of two alternative plans they favor. Slightly more than half (56%) chose the “overlay” option, where the new code would be assigned only to newly registered phones, while 41 percent favored splitting the region into two codes. However, only a small number who said they favored a “split”—just one in five—said they would like to be assigned to the new region, [REPLY TO: O ALBANY OFFICE: ROOM 2 LEGISLATIVE OFFICE BUILDING, ALBANY, NEW YORK 12 (8) 453688 [GIEFFERSON COUNTY OFFICE: 57 WASHINGTON STREET, ROOM 48 WATERTOWN, NEW YORK 16 (5) 732388 ‘DOSWEGO COUNTY OFFICE: 1s EAST BRIDGE STREET. FIRST FLOOR, OSWEGO. NEW YORK 12635) 342.2057 {QST. LAWRENCE COUNTY OFFICE: 30 FORD STREET, OGDENSBURG, NEW YORK 609 (351 593-304 EMAL: RITCHIEONYSENATE GOV WEBSITE: WWW RITCHIE NYSENATE-COV °Beyond the apparent lack of public support, it’s my opinion that regulators simply have not made a sufficient case to justify any action at this time. The North American Numbering Plan Administration, which the PSC relies on for projections of available phone numbers, has issued at least five different “exhaust” dates since this case was opened. Yet hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of phone numbers remain available for use in a region where population growth has held steady. Communications technology continues to change rapidly—indeed, this case has lingered since before the advent of the iPhone. It’s my belief that the PSC should explore every available option, including the use of technology to allow continued use of seven-digit dialing, and recapturing unused or returned phone numbers to expand the available supply before taking action. To many New Yorkers, “315” is shorthand for the region that we have called home for generations, part of our community identity. I applaud the PSC for its earlier decisions to delay this change and urge, once again, that you take additional time to study this plan and seek possible alternatives. Sincerely, Capen Patty Ritchie State Senator