State Pennsylvania | ||
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Cities Altoona, State College, Johnstown, Clarion, Bellefonte | ||
Area code 814 is a Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, U.S. telephone area code, which serves its northwestern and central regions, including the cities of Altoona, Bradford, DuBois, Erie, Meadville, Oil City, Johnstown, St. Marys, and Warren as well as the boroughs of State College, Brockway, Clearfield, Huntingdon, Bedford, Clarion, Punxsutawney, Tyrone, Ebensburg, Coudersport, and Brookville, as well as other boroughs and townships throughout northwestern and central Pennsylvania.
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814 is one of the original area codes established in 1947, and is the largest in Pennsylvania in terms of area. It is the only one of Pennsylvania's original four area codes, and one of the few original area codes not covering an entire state, that has never been split or overlaid. Despite the presence of Johnstown, Altoona, State College, and Erie, this region is largely rural.
Split controversy
In December 2009, because 814 was getting close to exhaustion, a geographic split was approved, with Erie and most of the northwestern portion slated to switch to the new area code 582. The proposed split—the first in the NANPA area to take place since 2007—would have taken place in early 2012.
Almost immediately after the public utilities commission decision, a grassroots movement began circulating an online petition to request the PA-PUC cancel the split, in favor of an overlay plan. The telecommunications industry also submitted petitions for an overturning of the split and replacing with an 814/582 overlay as well.
As of February 27, 2012, the projected exhaust date for 814 was delayed to the second quarter of 2018.
On April 26, 2012 the PUC voted 5–0 to dismiss the plans to split the 814 and revoke the implementation schedule. Current estimates suggest that 814 will be exhausted around 2020, by which point the split (or an overlay) of 814 may need to be revisited.
Counties that use this area code
Area code 814 serves parts of twenty-seven counties in Pennsylvania.