Lowcountry May Get New Area Code

The Lowcountry may get a new telephone area code under a proposal being considered by the state's Public Service Commission.

Officials expect that by late 2015, there will be no more number combinations available under the current 843 area code. Unlike years past, when area codes are depleted, state government doesn't simply wipe the slate clean and assign new numbers to whole geographic area.

The last time the state went from one area code — 803 in the late 1990s — it added 864 and 843 and gave everyone in the Upstate and Lowcountry a new area code. Now, the preferred practice is to overlap the area codes.

That allows telephone users the convenience of keeping their current numbers, but it requires everyone to dial 10 digits when making a local call. In the era of cell phones, when most folks don't actually dial entire numbers, the practice just seems more practical.

The Public Service Commission will vote on the proposal December 3. Anyone who wants to present evidence or testimony on the matter has until November 5 to do so. 

Read more about South Carolina's new area code.