New York is a city of millions of people who are, fairly or not, judged by the most random things. Their neighborhood. Their favorite bagel. How they pronounce “Houston.”
And then there is one’s area code.
Carrie Bradshaw had a meltdown in the first “Sex and the City” movie when she had to switch to 347 from 917 after throwing her phone in the ocean.
We couldn’t help but wonder how she would feel about the city’s newest digits: 465.
Starting on Thursday, that combo will become the eighth area code servicing New York City, the first new one since 2017. The growing city keeps running out of unique telephone numbers.
Old New York is symbolized by the 212 area code. Introduced in 1947 as the city’s first, it is also broadly considered the most elite. In the hit song “212,” the rapper Azealia Banks nods to the code’s Manhattan ties, saying, “I was in the 212 on the uptown A.”
Each area code corresponds with specific slices of New York, and 465 will be used in the Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island and the Marble Hill section of Manhattan.
If the prospect of getting assigned a number with that area code is troubling, keep in mind what Samantha Jones said to comfort Ms. Bradshaw.
“Honey, at least it’s New York.”
Here’s what else to know.
What area codes does New York City already have?
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212 (Introduced in January 1947)
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718 (September 1984)
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917 (January 1992)
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646 (July 1999)
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347 (October 1999)
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929 (April 2011)
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332 (June 2017)
If I live in a 465 area, is my number going to change?
No.
The new area code is an “overlay,” meaning it is merely an addition to any codes already in place. The areas it will cover — the Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island and Marble Hill — are serviced by what is known as the “347 Complex,” encompassing the 347/718/917/929 area codes.
Now, when new service or an additional line is requested, a 465 number may be assigned moving forward.
“Phone numbers with a 465 area code will become available only after 347 numbers are exhausted and therefore no longer available,” according to Kim Mashke, a spokeswoman for the New York State Department of Public Service, which regulates telecommunications.
Why 465?
Selecting new area codes is the responsibility of the North American Numbering Plan Administrator, which follows rules set by the Federal Communications Commission. It “assigns new area codes in a manner that ensures the efficient operation of the public switched telecommunications network,” said Heidi Wayman, who oversees data management and area code planning for the agency.
That planning starts when it looks like an area code is going to run out of telephone numbers within the next 10 years.
Ms. Wayman said the codes are chosen “with consideration to minimizing customer confusion.”
This will be the first time the No. 5 is used in a New York City area code.
How long will the 465 area code last?
About 11 years, according to the North American Numbering Plan Administrator and the Department of Public Service.
It took almost 40 years for the city to add a second area code to go with 212. But since then, with more phones and other tech devices requiring their own numbers, area codes have been added more frequently. There are nearly eight million telephone numbers associated with each area code, though some may not be assigned or be eligible for use for various reasons, officials said.
The post Say Hello to the Newest N.Y.C. Area Code: 465 appeared first on New York Times.
