Area code 814 is one of the original North American area codes established in 1947. Its numbering plan area (NPA) is the largest in the state. It is the only one of Pennsylvania's original four NPAs that still has its original boundaries. The largest cities in the area are Johnstown, Altoona, State College and Erie; otherwise this region is largely rural.
On May 14, 2020, the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission approved area code 582 for an all-service overlay, in the face of projections that 814 would exhaust in late 2022. From October 3, 2020 to April 3, 2021, a permissive dialing period was in effect, during which both seven- and ten-digit dialing was allowed. Assignment of telephone numbers of area code 582 began May 1, 2021.[1] With this assignment, seven-digit calling in Pennsylvania became extinct.
Split controversy
Map of previous proposed split of 814 with 582, showing county lines.
When numbering pool exhaustion became a threat in the 2000s, the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) approved a numbering plan split in December 2009, that would have assigned area code 582 to most of the northwestern portion of the territory, including Erie, by 2012.[2] The proposed new numbering plan area would have served Erie, Crawford, Warren, Venango, Forest, Clarion, Jefferson, Elk, McKean counties and parts of Armstrong, Clearfield, Indiana, and Mercer. The remaining counties would have retained area code 814. Under the plan, most of Clearfield and Indiana counties would have retained 814; most of Armstrong and Mercer counties would continue in area code 724.
After the decision, a grassroots movement circulated an online petition to request the commission to cancel the action in favor of an overlay plan,[3] a change also supported by the telecommunication industry.[4]
By February 27, 2012, the projected exhaustion date for 814 was changed to the second quarter of 2018,[5]
causing the PUC in a 5–0 vote on April 26, 2012 to dismiss the split plan and implementation schedule. Following projections suggested that 814 would be exhausted by 2021.[6]
Service area
The numbering plan area comprises parts of twenty-seven counties.[7]
