KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The Missouri Public Service Commission announced on Monday a new area code in the 816 area code region in Missouri.
The new 975 area code will coexist everywhere in this region with the 816 area code.
All local calls within this region must be dialed using ten digits rather than seven digits due to the 988 abbreviated area code for the National Suicide Prevention and Mental Health Crises Hotline launched last July.
The 816 area code serves cities such as Kansas City, St. Joseph, Richmond, Odessa and Adrian.
All existing 816 area code customers will keep their current area code overlay and their phone numbers will not be changed.
The Commission originally adopted an overlay plan for area codes 816 and 314 in an order issued in October 2000.
However, the following year, the Commission indefinitely delayed the implementation of area code overlap relief plans to allow time to test the effectiveness of phone number retention efforts.
“Telephone number retention efforts have been successful, and we’ve been able to delay the area code overlay rollout plan for the 816 area code for more than 21 years,” said Scott Rupp, chairman of the Public Utilities Commission. . “The depletion of available phone numbers led to an overlay plan and the introduction of the new area code 557 in the 314 area code region in August of last year.”
The North American Numbering Plan Administrator (NANPA) has indicated to the Commission that telephone numbering in area code 816 is nearing depletion and expects it to be depleted in the second quarter of 2024.
August 8 is the earliest date businesses can request phone numbers with the 975 area code, and October 13 is the earliest that the 975 area code will be activated.
However, both dates may be pushed back depending on when phone numbers actually run out in the 816 area code.
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