RICHMOND, Va. — Virginia state regulators are seeking public comments on a new area code in the southeastern part of the state as the 757 code runs out of new numbers.
The State Corporation Commission is having seven public hearings in August:
- August 12, 2019, 6:30 p.m. in the Board of Supervisors Room at the Southampton County Administration Building, 26022 Administration Center Dr., Courtland, Virginia 23837
- August 20, 2019, 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 Rd., Williamsburg, Virginia 23185
- August 21, 2019, at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m., in Chesapeake City Council Chambers at the City Hall Building, 306 Cedar Rd., Chesapeake, Virginia 23322
- August 22, 2019, at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m., Board of Supervisors Chambers in the Accomack County Administration Building, 23296 Courthouse Ave., Accomac, Virginia 23301
The North American Numbering Plan Administrator is recommending superimposing a new area code where the 757 code is currently used. That would mean local calls would require using 10 digits instead of seven.
The SCC also could split the area currently using the 757 code into two parts, meaning half of the current 757 users would get a new phone number. Such an option hasn't been used in the U.S. since 2006.
New 757 numbers are set to run out by the end of 2021.