Pa. officials: 570 area code numbers running out

ALLENTOWN, Pa. (AP) — Pennsylvania’s Public Utility Commission is trying to figure out what to do about the dwindling supply of phone numbers in the 570 area code.

PUC spokeswoman Denise McCracken says the commission is listening to public opinion over a pair of options to create more phone numbers in northeastern Pennsylvania.

Officials could make an area code for all new phone lines in the same 22-county area or the region could be split in two with one half getting all new numbers.

The company that manages phone numbers for the Federal Communications Commission says the 570 area code will run out of numbers by fall 2011.

McCracken says the PUC will hear public comments through August with a decision to be made later.