New 332 Area Code for NYC in 2017?

Just heard on tonight’s news that NYC will be getting a new area code, 332, in 2017. Gimme a break! Not too long ago all five boros of New York City used 212. In 1984 area code 718 was assigned to Brooklyn, Queens, and Staten Island. Bronx became 718 in 1992. Since then 347 became another area code for the 718 area in 1999. In 1992 area code 917 was created for NY area cellphones, and Manhattan added area code 646 in 1999.

I understand - we’re quickly running out of phone numbers, but it’s getting to the point where you must dial another area code to call your coworker at the next desk. The solution is amazingly simple: It’s time for 8 digit phone numbers. I can hear the complaints now, “I can’t remember 8 digits”, “It’s too much trouble”, “My business number ends in 2500”. Nonsense! You keep the same phone number you have now, just put a ‘0’ on the end. A business ending in 2500 now ends in 25000. It’s a lot easier to remember and dial 7 digits +0 than a 3 digit area code and then 7 digits. Once the ‘0’ ending numbers are exhausted you issue the same 7 digits adding a ‘1’, then ‘2’, etc. You’ve just increased the current phone number combinations tenfold. And don’t tell me it’s too hard to revamp the phone system. Everything is computerized. Program the computer and anything can be done. Hey, we handled Y2K, didn't we?

In my lifetime the US population grew from around 160 million to currently around 320 million. Besides the population doubling, families had a landline phone in the house; now people have a home landline, a cellphone for almost every family member, a dedicated computer line, a fax line, etc. Of course we run out of 7 digit numbers.

Phone numbers used to have 6 digits up into the 1940s. Area codes came into being in 1947, using 86 different 3 digit codes. Area codes with ‘0’ in the middle meant the code was used statewide, while area codes with ‘1’ in the middle meant the state had multiple area codes. Today, there are upwards of 290 area codes with no apparent rhyme or reason behind assigning them.

Can we get ahead of the curve? Let’s make 9 digit phone numbers. Your present phone number would end in ‘00’. This would increase the current number combinations a hundredfold. Hey, maybe your home number can be 7 digits and end in ‘00’, your cellphone the same 7 digits and end in ‘05’, your computer line the same 7 digits and end in ‘07’, etc. By the way, who still dials a phone?

UPDATE: It's now 2018, and no further mention has been made of a 332 area code. Perhaps they realized how ridiculous the idea was.