Washington State Number Plan Area (NPA) Exhaust Projections

2012 Washington area code exhaust projections by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC)

AREA CODE EXHAUST PROJECTION
206    2025
253    2031
360    2017
425    2032
509    2025

Area code exhaust projections are calculated by the FCC's North American Numbering Plan Administrator (NANPA). Communication service providers submit anticipated number resource use twice a year to the FCC.  Those projections are calculated and then dates released by the FCC on when an area code will run out of numbers.

Numbering Efficiency and Conservation in Washington State

Inefficient allocation of prefixes without number pooling has been the main cause of area code exhaust nationwide.  The UTC and federal regulators require service providers to use the existing supply of numbers efficiently through the following:  

  • Rate center consolidations help conserve numbering resources by expanding the area in which a prefix may be used.
  • Number pooling conserves numbers by allowing up to ten companies to share a single telephone prefix (which has a total of 10,000 numbers available).
  • State and federal regulatory number resource compliance oversight.

Number Portability

Number portability allows a customer to keep her telephone number when there is a change of service provider, location or service. The FCC (Order CC Docket 99-200) requires all service providers to port numbers.

  • Customers should direct number portability questions to their current company.
  • If you have problems with number porting after contacting your current company, you may contact the UTC Consumer Protection Help Line.
  • Companies may direct number portability inquiries to commission Telecom Staff.

Area Code Changes

 Western Washington:

  • In 2000, Area Code "564" was assigned to Western Washington by the FCC.  
  • The UTC approved a plan to overlay a new area code over the current 206, 253, 360, and 425 area codes.
  • Implementation of the new code plan requires customers to dial ten digits to complete a local call.
  • All service providers were directed to allow customer calling using seven, ten or eleven digits to make local calls.

Service Provider Compliance:  Optional seven, ten, or eleven digit dialing remains in effect statewide

Delay Western Washington New Area Code:

  • Rather than introducing a new area code, the UTC ordered its staff to seek more efficient use of number resources and delay implementation of the 564 code. 
  • The UTC continues to postpone new area codes in Washington by excercising oversight and authority (FCC delegation) on number resource conservation measures.

Eastern Washington:

  •  

    A plan to overlay the 509 area code with a second code and require ten digit local dialing was proposed by FCC representatives on behalf of communications service providers.

     

  • The UTC dismissed the proposal in 2002 and instead focused efforts on using the exisiting limited supply of number resources more efficiently.
  • The UTC directed its staff to identify unused prefixes, monitor projected demand, research and implement conservation efficiencies, and require service providers to share prefixes in compliance with federal and state rules.

 Resources