New area code to join Quebec's 819 region

OTTAWA-GATINEAU – The CRTC has announced a new area code to help manage the telephone number shortage that will affect the area currently covered by area code 819.Starting March 19, 2011, new telephone numbers assigned in the 819 region may be given the area code 873. Existing customers will keep their current area code and phone numbers.These measures are being implemented in response to the report that the Canadian Numbering Administrator presented to the CRTC last year, which warned that area code 819 is expected to run out of telephone numbers by February 2015.www.crtc.gc.ca