The End of 406?

Montanans will continue to share the one area code for a little longer. The Montana Public Service Commission issued a press release saying the FCC has extended 406 as the exclusive area code for all of Montana.

Eventually, population increases will force the state to add a second three-digit code, but the PSC has delayed that by requiring mandatory number pooling by phone service providers in the state.

The FCC now forecasts that Montana will need another one in the year 2022, according to the PSC. The FCC requires planning for a new area code to begin three years in advance of the forecasted area code exhaustion date.

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