The life expectancy of Maine’s 207 area code has been extended.
The Maine Public Utilities Commission announced Thursday that it’s not expecting 207 phone numbers to run dry until September 2032.
In 2021, officials predicted that we’d have to introduce a second area code in early 2025. In April, that was extended to early 2029. Now, officials are extending that date by another three and a half years.
Officials say we’ve been at risk of running out of 207 numbers because of the way numbers have been distributed to providers, but the PUC has taken steps to preserve it.
If they continue their efforts, PUC Chair Phil Bartlett says it’s possible we could extend the life of the numbers until the 2050’s.