First Name

Anita

Mr. Robin

Robert

Last Name

Prather Harvell

Curris

Schell

City

Comments to the PSC

Sackets Harbor

You missed another viable option. Move cell

phones to a different area code and extend the
use of 315 to landlines (residential and
businesses). That growth is much smaller and
will create viable options. Most cell phone
carriers have free or discounted cellular calling
between providers so the cost to cell customers
is much less than businesses calling different
area codes in an overlay.

Chaumont

You bumbling clowns at the PSC need to do

something worthwhile and positive like closing
down the outdated nuclear plant(s) on Lake
Ontario. These are an accident just waiting to
happen. Does upstate NY really need a
Chernoble? How about reducing my electric bill
in half,instead of turning tail and running away
from the real issues?Power companies and their
plants should be NON-profit,PERIOD. You really
want to do a public service instead of doing
nothing as it is now; take away ALLtake home
vehicles in the NYSDOT. How many MILLIONS
of dollars would that save monthly and it would
even reduce my taxes. But these suggestions
make sense, so I'm positive you won't do a thing
about it. Your greedy and without conscience.
You should be ashamed of yourselves.

Oswego

Would it be possible to assign a separate area

code Fort Drum and other transient to the train's
similar institutions that do not depend upon an
area code to identify your location?

Martin

Gaines

Norwood

Julie

Jenkins

Brasher Falls

With the portable phone number I believe that

area codes are no longer relevent. My son now
lives in Florida and still had his original phone
number he has always had. So unless there is a
real need for geographical area codes, then an
overlay would be the cheapest way to go. Also I
do not like the survey questions because I really
do not care what my area code is as long as I do
not have to change my phone numbers.
With the addition of cell phones, and the
movement of those phones throughout the
country - all while retaining the same phone
number, it seems beyond ridiculous to split a
geographic area and impose unkown costs to
people and businesses to make a switch. If we
do in fact need a new area code, then an overlay
would be the most reasonable option to ask of
people.
With an overlay, the PSC has the option of using
the new numbers or squeezing out the 315 area
code a little longer. Either way, the overlay will
be in place and ready to be used. With mobile
phones being more prolific, using 10 digits instad
of 7 makes no difference. Plus, we often need to
dial the area code even when calling within the
315 region. So really, what's the difference?

R Shankar

Subramanian

Potsdam

While individuals using phones that can store

numbers and dial at the touch of a button may
not mind dialing an area code in addition to the
number, people like myself who use an ordinary
land line would find it cumbersome to have to
dial an area code every time for a local phone
call. For this reason, I request that either
nothing be done right now, or if something has to
be done, to make a change such that people in
the (315) area code can continue to make local
calls just using seven digits. Thank you.

Kathy

Lori

Betty
Nancy
Melissa

Genine

Genine

Geraldine

Snell

McRitchie

Rusho
Mills
Barnard

Gehret

Gehret

Fink

Potsdam

We have had our area code for over 30 years.

Changing would be very confusing-especially for
elderly relatives. Just assign a new area code to
NEW phone users. They haven't yet set a phone
number for business and private contacts. It
would also be less costly to those of us with the
315 code.

Hastings

we have been through it before. lived in

dutchess county when changed from 914 to 845.
it is not that big of a deal. change is going to
happen, stop fighting it.

Clayton
Ogdensburg
Central Square

we don't need to change area code 315 very

unecessary as my children are all out of state so
are some of my friends whom know only 315 for
this area
We also have a business
VOTE NO!

DeKalb Jct.

Use an overlay for new numbers in order to

inconvenience no one who already use 315
numbers.It's also cheaper.

DeKalb Jct.

Use an overlay for new numbers in order to

inconvenience no one who already use 315
numbers.It's also cheaper.

Waatertown

Time consuming to change phone number with

every account or business company that we do
business with.

Wellesley Island

This will happen eventually, so let's please just

get it over with now. Since original area codes
were created, we have never split or overlaid an
area code in the North Country. I find any
business that complains about this to be poorly
managed and unable to assume basic marketing
costs that are assumed when running a private
enterprise.

Leonard

Hass

Central Square

Joseph

Whittaker

Martville

Bob
david

Hostetter
stacy

Canton
canton

Larry

Emmons

Massena

Barbara

Perry

Norwood

This will cost people, regardless of how it is

completed. In my opinion, the cleanest way to do
this is to split the area into two area codes, not
an overlay.
This is NOT needed there are thousands of non
used dead phone #"s.....I have found that people
also have phone #'s they do not ever use but
have to have as to their phone contracts so the
phone companies are a BIG part of this MESS.
This is not a big deal. Do an overlay and no one
loses their number. With the memory storage in
most phones and voice retrival of stored
numbers this is a non issue. The only hardship
will be if numbers are changed rather than an
overlay. We are one of the last areas in the
country where one doesn't have to dial ten digist
for every call.
this is just way to raise more hidden taxes
The top of the state has always been ignored.
Leave us alone. We don't do well with change.
The problem with overloading the 315 area
code, I believe, is caused by the influx of cell
phones. There are so many, as most families
have several. A good cure would be to create
an area code for cell phones only. Instead of
315, it could be 235 (CEL). Makes perfect sense
to me. That way, the new area code would be
easily remembered.

Lindsey

Karen

John

Paul

LoParco

Rickard

Meyers

DeShane

Canton

The Buffalo-Rochester area split into different

regions years ago. They all learned to live with it.
Why are we so different? Splitting area code
regions would mean additional costs for
businesses because they would have to have
new business cards, stationary, etc. This would
be a one time thing. We have gone from paper
and pencil to electronic correspondence in just a
few years, yet there are still folks without
computers and smart phones. Why should this
be different? Are we so stuck in our old ways
that we cannot change and embrace something
new/different? It would be an additional way to
show the North Country is truly separate from
the rest of Upstate New York. I am all for St.
Lawrence county getting a new area code!
Thank you for considering my input.

Watertown

Splitting the area code will cause me to have

charges when I call a relative who previously
lived in the 315 area and you have deemed it
necessary to make them live in another. You pay
the fee!

Potsdam

some of the questions above did not have

enough choices, so some of the answers are
irrelivant. I have printed signs and printed
material for two businesses with my 315
business phone number printed on them. It
would cost me several thousand dollars to
change these. I think businesses should be
allowed to keep their existing 315 numbers, and
an additional area code be used for residential
customers, and businesses that want to switch.

Canton

Since our county (St. Lawrence) has nearly the

same population it had 100 years ago, I doubt
we will run out of numbers to assign in the 315
area anytime soon.

please keep the legislators out of this and let the

appropriate public service staff determine if a
change is needed

Nichole

Scott

French

Wilhelm

Harrisville

Please do not force people to change their

numbers when they have done nothing wrong.
This means informing friends, family, changing
medical paperwork and documents, along with
stationary or if you run a business paying a web
technition to change your website information
along with any social media accounts that have
your information about your business. For
business that have already strongly advertised,
this means changing all marketing materials
along with any TV commercials and paying for
new production, Just have new phones have a
new area code and be done with it, this would
have zero affect on the new numbers. As people
slowly started to change numbers, try to
designated the 315 code for one area (St
Lawerence, Jefferson) and the new area code
for the other area to eventually in 20 years, have
a balance. Eventually you will be able to balance
out the two area codes then phone numbers are
freed on on their own terms. Thank Patti Richie
and to her staff reading and sorting these
comments!

Lisbon

Our area is hit hard enough economically.

Adding this to it would continue to put our
economy into a hole that we cannot afford. This
would be better for an area like Syracuse to deal
with considering their economy is strong enough
to bounce back from.

Mark

Diane

Keith

Linda

Reynolds

Medvitz

Wells

VanAlstine

Watertown

Of course I would prefer that my number would

be the 315 area code, but even if I had to
change area codes, I would rather have it split
then overlay. It's a really large area for one code
and would, in the long run, be simpler, more
logical and easier to use if the area was split into
two sections. The longer we wait to do this, the
more difficult it is. If it had been done originally,
less people and numbers would have been
involved and we would be used to it. If we start
now and plan it before crisis time, it will be a lot
easier for businesses to accommodate the
change.
No new area code

Syracuse

My mother went through this and has to dial 10

digits to call the woman next door. There has to
be a better way.

Mexico

My main objection is the likely added expense of

changing phone numbers, as well as being
charged extra for calling outside the native area
code. This is what happens in the large cities
with multiple codes - charges for long distance.

Lyons Falls

My brother in central Ohio had to change area

codes several years ago and they are in the
process of doing so again. When I am there I
don't hear anyone complaining about getting a
new area code. We can do it with no problem.

Bennett

Hirsch

Brasher Falls

Guy
robert

Rocca
tebo

PYRITES
oswqegatchie

Thomas

Hitchcock

Liverpool

Most of us are used to adding the area code

when we use our mobile phones. An overlay
would be the way to go.
Look at who is going to profit from this change.
We do not need this!
leave ours them same please
Leave landlines at 315 & assign new A/C to cell
phones

Paul
Donald & Loretta

steven

Ferguson
Cooke

marcinkowski

Watertown
Ogdensburg

theresa

Land lines are dying off..so many "new" locals

have different area codes anyway.Been through
the change several times in other areas of the
country..it's a major hassle.
keep our 315 area code
just look at the rochester area years back when
theyndid the same thing. they split the 716 area
code and made the rochester area went to 585.
Just hurry up and do it. Quit blocking progress!

John

Bang

Chaumont

Penny

Schwandner

Chaumont

Lorne

MacDonald

Richville

I've had my phone number for the house since

1973, and my business phone since 1995. If
those numbers were to change it would be
devastating.
I've had my main number for 10 years.
Everybody from my doctor, businesses, etc
know my number. If my area code were to
change, it would cause a huge inconvenience for
all.
ive grown up with the same phone number... 30
years. i plan on keeping it

Potsdam

It's hard enough trying to establish a small

business without suddenly losing the phone
number you've taken such pains to keep
consistent

Dexter

It would make sense that the most populated

region area within the new area code regions
would retain the 315. We will adapt to the
change quickly. Continuing to put it off is not
solving anything.

DeKalb Junction

It would be a financial burden on current

business in St. Lawrence County, which is
already burden with high unemployment,
rampant drug use problems, our youth leaving
the are, among many other things. Using the
overlay should only affect new numbers.

Catherine

David

Charlene

LaPointe

Schryver

Allen

Elizabeth

Patterson

Potsdam

Frederick

Gerloff

Watertown

Debra

Der

Copenhagen

Stella

Todd

Heuvelton

It seems to me the most sensible option is to

split off the greater Syracuse area, where the
greatest population resides. I would draw the
line at the southern Oswego county border;
everything north stays 315, everything south is
the new number.
It is not an inconvenience. This is the only area I
have lived where there was not 10-digit dialing.
How about spending your valuable time on a
more pertinent issue like helping bring more
employers to CNY. Fighting this issue just
makes us look like a backwater area.
Is there a Prefix number that could be used e.g.
(315) 444-5555.
In Lewis County there are lots of elderly people. I
personally feel that changing the area code
would be a hardship that these seniors do not
need. I realize there are seniors everywhere but
living in a rural area puts added stress on them.
Also I feel that adding another area code will end
up costing us more. We will no longer be able to
make calls to the whole 315 area without fees. It
costs people in Lewis County more money just
to have a phone compared to city people. Please
don't make it any harder for folks to live in this
area.
in a family emergency how many people are
going to remember al the numbers to be
pressed. The list people would have to keep to
make sure they dial the correct number so they
don't end up calling a out of state or even a out
of the country number by mistake.This whole
idea is foolish.Tell them no again Senator
Ritchie.Thank you

Tara

Lisa

Julia

Dolan

Hillard

Rapczynski

Troy

I'm responding on behalf of my mother, who lives

in Colton. This change is good in theory, but
there are too many factors that make it illogical
(people too used to 315, businesses, etc.). 315
covers a broad area, just like 518. Speaking
strictly from my own perspective, landlines are
becoming less used here (Capital Region) as
more people use cell service and said cell
service is more reliable than in the upper regions
of 315. If cell service was improved up there,
fewer people would rely on landlines and
therefore the phone number issue would be
lessened. Just something to think about. For the
record, I grew up in Potsdam and lived there
until 2004, when I moved to Colton before
leaving the area for good in 2005.

Massena

I'm originally from NJ. We went through this a

bunch of years ago. New area codes are really
not that big a deal. Companies need ample time
to make any changes, like 4 months. Make sure
its well advertised before the change begins, and
have a transition period where callers receive a
message saying the area code will be (and then
later has) changed. Overlay plans, however, can
be very confusing, and tend to be more difficult
for folks to grasp. Either way, the big issue is
making sure that it won't now be long distance to
call between the area codes.

Colton

If we really need another area code, which we

might with all of the cell phone usage, then
splitting the area will be less confusing than the
overlay to me. It may be confusing at first but
then will become the norm. Hopefully the phone
companies can have messages that explain that
a new area code has been implemented. This
will help out during the first months of change.

Ed
Robert

Rae

Linda

Wentworth
Gilmer

Hesseltine

Dittrich

Oswego
Lisbon

If the phone company would not charge long

distance charges made to new area code it may
work. It would cost too much time and money to
change my business number to new area code.
If something is not broke, don't fix it!!!

Ogdensburg

If local business have to change their 315 it

would add additional cost to change on
stationary and other forms.

Watertown

IF it is necessary to change the area codes, then

I believe we should just bite the bullet and
change the code for a portion of the North
Country. There will be some cost involved but
will be less confusing than the overlay proposal.

Anthony

Diagostino

Massena

William

Martin

Oswegol

I would support a new area code by county or

region. I think all keeping 315 and then the
person next door having a different area code is
senseless. My paretns lived in virginia when a
new area code was assigned and it worked quite
well by dividing the area.
I usually dial with 10 digits anyway so it wouldn't
be that much of a change to have an overlay.
I think the new area should consist of Jefferson
and St. Laurence counties.
I lived through this more than 15 years ago in
NJ. It isn't a big deal. Stop trying to be some big
talking politician and just get this done. It is
inevitable. Want to do something useful? Work
helping all of the meth and heroin addicts who
are dying left and right. Having to dial three
extra numbers isn't a big deal. Find another way
to make yourself useful to the people of this
state. This is a non-issue. How about prison
reform? That might be a good one considering
we've got two criminal on the loose in this state,
terrorizing citizens throughout. Hopefully, I've
given you some good ideas. Now get started.

Christopher

Knapp

Watertown

I live and work in Jefferson County. Changing

the area code now is better than waiting. We will
run out of numbers as population continues to
increase and younger and younger people.
Seperate Syracuse/Utica/Rome from the smaller
northern counties. That way, the impact will be
smaller based on the number of businesses.
Nobody remembers phone numbers anymore.
we program them in our smartphones or google
them.

Penny

Parish

Carthage

Kathleen

Killeen

Theresa

I know the rate of phines have increased, but I'm

wise enough to know there is a way around
anything...
I heard there were plenty of numbers in area
code 315 still available.

Massena

I have lived in Houston where Overlays are

used. NO PROBLEMS EXCEPT EVERYONE
MUST DIAL ALL 10 digits every time you call
ANYBODY.

Gouverneur

I have had the same phone number for 17 years

and am not willing to change it so that people
can roll in and out of cell phone numbers like
yesterdays news paper.

Watertown

I have family in Watertown and Syracuse, which

are still in the 315 area code at this time. I think
it would be very inconvenient to have to dial 10
or 11 digits everytime I wish to speak with my
children. Plus, I suspect there would need to be
changes in phone numbers that make it more
difficult for elderly citizens who often have home
phones and would be required to switch the
contact information for many people with whom
they regularly communicate.

Brasher Falls

I feel we have had the 315 area code a long time

and why should our area change it? How about
doing it in NY city instead.

Don

Leon

martin

Susan

Schneider

Wells

Morrison

Maxfield

Chad

Platten

Oswego

I feel that splitting would be the best choice. I

think the route that Buffalo and Rochester took
worked well for them and I believe it would work
well for us. I honestly think that based on the
maps that I have seen, keeping Syracuse in 315
and splitting the northern portion away makes
the best sense. Everyone can keep their same
local code and we don't all have to dial additional
numbers to order a pizza or call a neighbor.

Kulpa

boonville

Kathleen

Bouchard

Ogdensburg

I dop nopt feel an additional area code is

necessary siince there are so many unassigned
numbers available.
I don't understand the need for this as many
have no land line and are choosing cell phones.

OGDENSBURG

I don't think we are actually going to run out of

numbers. Old numbers that are no longer being
used should be given out. I also don't see why
we couldn't just create new exchanges for new
numbers rather than a new area code.

Krista

Larock

Norm

Conger

Pulaski

Diana

Heald

DeWitt

I don't think the population of the area has grown

enough to warrant adding a new area code. I
believe other options need to be pursued before
this is put into effect. People come to remember
area codes of where people live and suddenly
changing the area code impacts many more
people than those just living within the confines
of the area code itself.
I don't know if it still happens but I remember that
a certain minimum number of phone numbers
are given out instead of just handing someone
just the numbers they ask for. So if this is true
and the FCC stops doing this, I'm sure we will
have more numbers than we need for a long
while.

Gerald
Kim

Lance

Castle
Toomey

Evans

Massena
Brasher Falls

Watertown

I don't care who ends up with the new number in

the long run a geographic split makes more
sense. The inconvenience of a split it shortlive
the overlay implications last forever.
I do not wish to dial anymore numbers then
necessary to reach my party.
I do not want a new area code.
I am not sure we need the new area code. As
people give up landlines, the number of phones
will vary. If we need to do a new area code,
however, I think it would be better to split than to
overlay. It helps the region's identity.
I am all for the overlay plan and a new area code

Thad

Kimple

Carthage

Eileen

Soika

Pulaski

I am a small business owner and I use my phone

number extensively for advertising. I also have it
on my vehicles and trailer in graphics form. Any
changes to the number means extra expense
and the difficulty of informing current and future
customers of the change. I am convinces that
forcing a change in area code willl result in lost
business and revenu.
Here we go again! Having even part of the area
switch area codes is going to create havoc. This
doesn't even take into consideration for
consumer who would have to submit a different
area code for their current phone number to
family, friends, doctors, and businesses. What
about the elderly? Whatever the decision, let's
not make this issue one we have to revisit every
2-3 years.

Pulaski
adams

growth in the 315 area code does not support

creation of a new area code at this time. It would
impose unnecessary burdens on businesses and
individuals to change numbers with their various
contacts.
For once, do the taxpaper friendly thing

Kenneth
c

Hubbard
lall

David
Annamarie
Barry
Charles
Lisa

Taylor
Zizzi
Chalk
Schumann
Mahon

Wellesley Island
Liverpool
Fishers Landing
Ogdensbury
Dexter

Don't really have enough information. If not cost

prohibitive I would think and overlay of a new
one for new phones would cause the least
amount of problems for everyone.
dont need it
Don't mess with it!!!
Do not like the new plan.
DO NOT GET A NEW AREA CODE!!

Christopher
Scott

Corriveau
Peer

Lisbon
Oswego

Thomas

Rivet

Heuvelton

Create a new area code and add 10 digit dialing

for all calls. This is the simplest and most cost
effective solution. In Canada, all major cities
have 10 digit dialing. People will get used to it.
Change is inevitable people need to get over it.
At the rate people are leaving and companies
are failing, the 300,000 will grow much larger.

Chase Mills
Saint Regis Falls

As a senior citizen, the task of informing each

business, doctor, plus friends of a new phone
number is overwhelming. They gave my aunt a
new area code, a year later my mother died and
I couldn't reach her. The phone company quits
informing folks using the wrong area code after
that.
An overlay would affect any current customers.

Massena

After a switch is made, should the whole area

just switch so you're not dialing 10 numbers to
call across the street?

Oswego

Add ing or splitting a zip code is easy as it is not

programed into one's life as much as a phone
number. I can see confusion for folks that have
landlines and long distance costs. Cells usually
have long distance charges built in. Depending
on the location of the phone company and rural
conditions it might costs such as with TDS or
Frontier and other small companies that already
restrict calling areas and add the long distance
charges on.

Sandra
John

Wil

Connie

Kerr
Johnson-Eilola

Neves

Elen

Bob

Crowe

Canton

A well planned splitting of the current area

covered by 315 would be much more palatable.
If the announcement came a year prior to the
split becoming effective, businesses could
prepare more readily when ordering stationary,
advertising, etc. If the area with the changed
area code could dial either area code for that
year (i.e. call forwarding from the old number to
the new number) but recieve a message that the
area code had changed, it would be much less
disruptive. I have to believe that the phone
companies have the technology to do something
like this. I think having to remember which area
code your neighbor or the police department or
the fire department have is more of an
inconvenience than everyone getting a new area
code would be. Giving businesses and
institutions a year or more to prepare to cut over
to a new area code would soften the economic
blow significantly. I hope that you strongly urge
the PSC to choose the split should the addition
of a new area code become inevitable.