Phone Numbers in Kentucky: A Comprehensive Guide

Quick Reference

• Country: United States (Kentucky)
• Country Code: +1
• International Prefix: 011
• National Prefix: 1
• Area Codes: 270/364, 502, 606, 859

Overview

This detailed guide explores Kentucky's telephone numbering plan, covering phone number structures, dialing procedures, and regulatory aspects. It serves telecom professionals, developers, and system administrators seeking accurate, current information on Kentucky's telecommunications infrastructure.

Number Formats

General Number Structure

Kentucky adheres to the North American Numbering Plan (NANP), which mandates a fixed-length format for phone numbers.

• Country Code: +1
• Area Code: 3 digits
• Subscriber Number: 7 digits

Geographic Numbers

Type	Format	Example
Landline	+1 NXX-NXX-XXXX	+1 502-123-4567
Mobile	+1 NXX-NXX-XXXX	+1 859-987-6543
Toll-Free	+1 8XX-XXX-XXXX	+1 800-555-1234
Premium Rate	+1 900-XXX-XXXX	+1 900-555-6789

• N: Any digit from 2-9 (area codes and central office codes cannot start with 0 or 1).
• X: Any digit from 0-9.

Regular Expressions for Validation

For developers, these regular expressions validate Kentucky phone numbers:

• General Format:
  ^\+1\s?([2-9][0-9]{2})\s?([2-9][0-9]{2})\s?([0-9]{4})$
  

• Toll-Free Numbers:
  ^\+1\s?(800|888|877|866|855|844|833)\s?([2-9][0-9]{2})\s?([0-9]{4})$
  

• Premium Rate Numbers:
  ^\+1\s?900\s?([2-9][0-9]{2})\s?([0-9]{4})$
  

Dialing Procedures

Domestic Calls

• Local Calls:

  • Within the same area code: Dial 7 digits (e.g., 123-4567).
  • Across different area codes: Dial 10 digits (e.g., 1-859-123-4567).

• Long-Distance Calls:

  • Dial 1 + Area Code + Subscriber Number (e.g., 1-502-123-4567).

International Calls

• Outgoing:

  • Dial the international access code (011), followed by the country code, area code, and local number.
  • Example: To call a number in the UK from Kentucky, dial 011 + 44 + Area Code + Local Number.

• Incoming:

  • International callers should dial +1, followed by the area code and local number.
  • Example: +1 270-123-4567.

Recent or Upcoming Changes

Recent Changes

• 270/364 Area Code Overlay: To address the exhaustion of available numbers, area code 364 was introduced as an overlay to area code 270 in western Kentucky. This change necessitated the adoption of 10-digit dialing within this region.

Upcoming Changes

• Projected Area Code Introduction: North-central Kentucky, currently served by area code 502, may require an additional area code by late 2026 or early 2027 due to increasing demand for phone numbers.

Number Portability

Kentucky supports number portability, allowing users to retain their phone numbers when switching between service providers. This aligns with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) mandate effective since 1999.

Major Telecom Operators and Number Ranges

Operator	Service Type	Area Codes
AT&T	Landline/Mobile	502, 859, 270, 606
Verizon Wireless	Mobile	502, 859, 270, 606
T-Mobile	Mobile	502, 859, 270, 606
Spectrum (Charter Comm.)	Landline	502, 859, 270, 606
Frontier Communications	Landline	270, 606

Note: Specific number ranges are not publicly disclosed by these operators.

Regulatory Body

The Kentucky Public Service Commission (PSC) regulates telecommunications in Kentucky, overseeing compliance with state and federal guidelines.

• Official Website: Kentucky Public Service Commission

ITU-T Recommendations

Kentucky adheres to the ITU-T E.164 recommendation, which standardizes international telephone numbering plans. The E.164 format ensures uniformity in the length and structure of phone numbers for global interoperability.

Number Allocation and Management

Phone numbers in Kentucky are allocated by the North American Numbering Plan Administrator (NANPA), under the oversight of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). The Kentucky Public Service Commission (PSC) plays a role in local number management.

Technical Restrictions or Special Cases

Kentucky does not have unique technical restrictions such as golden numbers or number blocking that are specific to the state. Standard restrictions and practices under the NANP apply.

Technical Considerations

For Developers and System Administrators

1. Validation: Ensure phone number validation routines are updated to handle Kentucky's area code overlays and 10-digit dialing requirements.
2. Portability: Systems should accommodate number portability, including the potential for a number to change carriers without altering its format.
3. Dialing Plan Updates: Regularly update dialing plans in systems to reflect any changes in area codes or dialing procedures.
4. Internationalization: Implement support for E.164 formatting to facilitate international calls and number storage.