Illinois Commerce Commission (the public utility commission of the state
of Illinois) cracked down on the telephone industry practice of waste
in telephone numbering space by reclaiming unassigned 1000s blocks to
be reassigned to other telephone companies in order to slow down the
proliferation of new area codes.

Overlay codes were assigned, but not opened. 872 overlays 312/773, Chicago,
but no prefixes could be assigned until all prefixes in either 312 or 773
were exhausted.

The state's timeline: Code exhaustion, 30 day notice from NANPA to IllCC
prior to assignment of first prefix in 872. Assignment of first prefix
triggers 90 day notice to telephone subscribers of mandatory dialing date
and 90 day permissive dialing period. The latter is meaningless as we've
long had permissive dialing. But the new prefix will not be activated
till the mandatory dialing date, at the earliest.

Yes, the bastards are STILL making use the 1+ dialing prefix (although not
on cell phones).

Permissive dialing began August 7. Mandatory dialing date is November 7.

Easy to remember test number, available between October 14 and December 7:
872 872-1872

I wasn't following the area code exhaust list till a postcard from Comcast
showed up in today's mail announcing the dialing plan change. Humorously,
I can dial the test number from my cell phone but not from Comcast
Digital Voice.