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December 15, 2015

959 area code now a reality in CT

The new 959 area code is now a reality to overlay the 860 area code. Originally expected to be implemented in August 2014, the rollout was delayed because it wasn’t needed earlier.

Michael Coyle, a spokesman for the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority, said, “There is a significant amount of engineering, planning and logistics work necessary to make the transition seamless. Also, in 2014, the ‘exhaust’ of numbers in the 860 area code was anticipated, but the specific exhaust date could not be foreseen with specificity.”

An overlay is the addition of a new area code, in this case 959, to the same geographic region as an existing area code (860). An overlay does not require customers to change their existing area code, personal telephone numbers, or the manner in which they dial calls.

Customers requesting new service, an additional line, or in some cases, moving their service may now be assigned a number in the new 959 area code. “So this holiday season if there’s a new phone on your shopping list, it may come with a 959 prefix,” Coyle said.

For most customers, the new area code should have minimal impact:

  • Existing telephone numbers, including current area code, will not change;
  • Customers will continue to dial area code + telephone number for local calls, and 1 + area code + telephone number for long distance calls;
  • Local calling areas will remain the same;
  • Prices for calls and coverage areas will not change due to the overlay;
  • Customers will still dial services such as 911 (211, 411, 811, etc.) with just three digits.

PURA also advised that customers should also ensure that all services, automatic dialing equipment, and other types of equipment recognize 959 as a valid area code. Some examples are life safety systems, fax machines, Internet dial-up numbers, alarm and security systems, gates, speed dialers, mobile phone contact lists, call forwarding settings, voicemail services, and similar functions.

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