Central Oregonians will have a chance next week to weigh in on options for a proposed new regional telephone area code, scheduled to be in place by 2011.

The need for a new area code is based on the belief that phone numbers in the 541 area code will run out by 2011, according to Oregon Public Utility Commission spokesman Bob Valdez. Officials from the commission will be at Central Oregon Community College on Wednesday gathering public comment before they make a decision on how to proceed. Meetings also will be held in Burns and John Day on Thursday.

Although four options for a new area code are on the table, the most likely one proposes adding, or overlaying, a new area code to the existing geographic area served by the 541 area code. So everyone who currently has a 541 area code will keep it, but all new numbers would have the new area code.

“We’re trying to really reach out and hit as many areas as possible,” Valdez said.

“We’ve had one hearing so far (in Corvallis), and the public gave us comments. They were pretty split,” he said. “Half supported the overlay, while others want to split the 541 area code, where half would get the 541 area code and others would not.”

The area code in Oregon was changed for the first time in 1995. Originally, the entire state had a 503 area code. Geographically, the majority of the state was given 541, and only the state’s northwest corner, including Portland and Salem, retained 503.

In 2000, the commission laid the 971 area code over the same geographic area served by the 503 code.

Despite the change in area codes, local calls will remain local calls. The cost of calls will not change because of the area code, and calling emergency and information numbers, such as 911 or 411, will remain the same, according to documents on the commission’s Web site.

Public meeting

When: 6 to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday

Where: Central Oregon Community College, Boyle Education Center, Room 151

For more information: www.puc.state.or.us