Not just 904? New Northeast Florida area code backed

The state Public Service Commission should approve a plan to add another area code in Northeast Florida, commission staff members recommended Thursday.

The commission is scheduled May 3 to take up a proposal to create a new area code in Jacksonville and nearby communities that have used the 904 area code for decades.

With increasing population and growing demands of cell phones and other technology, the region covered by the 904 area code could run out of available phone numbers in 2024, according to the proposal filed in February by the North American Numbering Plan Administrator, an organization that oversees area codes.

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Commission staff members Thursday recommended approval of what is known as an “overlay,” which would involve adding the new area code to the same territory covered by the 904 area code.

New customers would receive the new code. Current customers would keep their numbers, though 10-digit dialing would be required for all local calls.