South Carolina could get 4th area code in 2015

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) âone space€one space” South Carolina will likely gain a fourth area code by the end of 2015. The state Public Service Commission announced Tuesday that the group responsible for coordinating area codes in the U.S. has filed a petition calling for relief in the state’s fast-growing 843 region. The North American Numbering Plan Administrator expects numbers to run out for the area code in the state’s coastal and Pee Dee regions in the fourth quarter of 2015. It recommends creating an additional area code for new customers in the 843 region. Existing customers would keep their current numbers. But everyone within the region would have to start using all 10 digits to place local phone calls. The plan goes before the commission for approval. A public hearing is scheduled for Dec. 3.