Area code 717

Area code 717 is a telephone area code in the North American Numbering Plan (NANP) for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. It was one of the original area codes established in 1947 and originally served a vast portion of central and eastern Pennsylvania. The region is now served by an overlay plan with area code 223, which was activated in 2022 to provide additional numbering resources.

History

The numbering plan area was created as one of the original eighty-six area codes during the Bell System's implementation of the North American Numbering Plan. For decades, it covered a massive swath of the state, stretching from the Delaware River to the Allegheny Mountains. Significant reductions to its territory began in the 1990s due to number exhaustion from the proliferation of fax machines, pagers, and mobile phones. The first split occurred in 1998, when the northern tier, including Scranton and Wilkes-Barre, was assigned area code 570. A second major split in 1999 created area code 835, though this code was later canceled and the territory instead received area code 445 as an overlay for area code 215 and area code 267 in the Philadelphia metropolitan area. The continued demand for numbers led the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission to approve an all-services overlay with area code 223, which began mandatory ten-digit dialing in 2022.

Service area

The numbering plan area primarily serves the south-central region of Pennsylvania, encompassing all or part of several counties. Major population centers include the state capital, Harrisburg, as well as Lancaster, York, and Lebanon. The region is historically significant, containing part of the Pennsylvania Dutch Country and key sites from the American Revolutionary War such as Gettysburg National Military Park. Other notable communities within the service area are Carlisle, home to the United States Army War College, and Hershey, known for The Hershey Company. The area also includes portions of the Appalachian Mountains and the Susquehanna River valley.

Central office codes

Due to the overlay with area code 223, central office codes from both NPA codes are assigned throughout the geographic region. The North American Numbering Plan Administrator (NANPA) allocates blocks of numbers to competitive local exchange carriers and incumbent local exchange carriers like Lumen Technologies and Windstream Holdings. Notable central office prefixes have historically been associated with major employers and institutions, such as those used by Penn State Health, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania government offices in Harrisburg, and York College of Pennsylvania. The introduction of the overlay was a direct response to the exhaustion of available NXX codes within the original 717 plan.

In popular culture

The area code has been referenced in various media, often to establish a setting in central Pennsylvania. It is mentioned in the title of the song "717" by the alternative rock band The Perishers. The region it covers is frequently depicted in films and documentaries about the American Civil War, particularly those focusing on the Battle of Gettysburg. Television series set in the area, such as those exploring Amish and Mennonite communities, implicitly reference the telecommunications region. The area code is also used by local businesses and sports teams, like the Harrisburg Senators minor league baseball club, for marketing and regional identity.

Future expansion

With the implementation of the 223 overlay, the numbering pool for the region is considered sufficient for the foreseeable future. The Federal Communications Commission and NANPA monitor number utilization rates, and any future changes would likely involve adding another overlay code rather than another geographically disruptive split. The growth of the Internet of Things and machine-to-machine communication could accelerate number demand, potentially necessitating further planning. The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission continues to oversee telecommunications infrastructure developments in the region, including the ongoing deployment of 5G networks by providers like Verizon and AT&T.

Category:Area codes in Pennsylvania Category:North American Numbering Plan area codes