Welcome to the… (771)?

The District’s newest (and only second) area code is now being made available to people getting new phone numbers, though you may still be lucky enough to snag the iconic (and fast expiring) original (202). According to the D.C. Public Service Commission, Tuesday was the first day that the (771) area code could be handed out by service providers.

The introduction of the new area code has been years in the making, product of the inevitable reality that every area code eventually runs out of phone numbers. D.C. has had the (202) area code since 1947, and it has produced more than eight million distinct phone numbers. Planning started in early 2020 for a second area code for the city, and it was just over a year ago that the North American Numbering Plan Administrator unveiled D.C.’s newest digits — (771).

The area code is what’s known as an overlay — it will co-exist with (202) throughout D.C., unlike old-school “splits,” in which area codes were assigned to specific geographic areas. What limited criticism or concern there was around the introduction of the (771) area code was largely based on sentimental attachments to the original (202), though the Anti-Digit Dialing League — “the premiere sensible dialing association organization” — argued against an overlay since splits allow people to still call each other using only the seven digits of their phone number, instead of having to also dial the area code.

“Overlays continue to remain a public nuisance,” said the niche organization.

Now, if you’re in the need of a new phone number, fear not — not every (202) number is gone. While NANPA estimates that every (202) number could be spoken for by the end of the year, service providers still have some in stock. And if you strike out there, NumberBarn says it has thousands available for purchase. This reporter checked, and the vanity number (202) 990-WAMU is available for purchase, for anyone who could use it. (And this reporter could.)

For anyone feeling truly unmoored by the addition of the (771) area code, take solace in the fact that it won’t be until at least 2024 that the region will have to go through this process again — that’s when Maryland could add a new area code to the fast-expiring local (301) and (240).

Have thoughts to share? Give us a call — especially if you’ve got a (771) number.