Area code 321 is the area code serving Brevard County, Florida, Space Coast Region and Seminole County, Florida. The area code has been in use since November 1, 1999; it was assigned to Florida (instead of suburban Chicago) after a successful petition led by local resident Robert Osband to commemorate the Space Coast's impact on Brevard County. When it was activated in 2000, area code 321 was used as an overlay for the Orlando area. The code refers to the countdown sequence which has launched many spacecraft from Cape Canaveral.[1][2][3]
321 was used in Orlando area with an overlay area code 407 and exception for a small portion of Volusia County that includes Deltona which was in 407 at the time (it is now in 386). However, no 321 numbers were issued in the 407 area from 2003 until 2015, when 321 numbers were issued for cell phones in Osceola, Orange, and Seminole counties due to high demand. With the 407/689 overlay, 321 remains frozen in the Orlando area with new 321 numbers again being assigned only in Brevard County.
Area code 321 is also the NPA used for SatCom Satellite Phone units.[4] Harris/Caprock Corporation has maritime satellite calls going through its corporate call center in Melbourne.
This area code contains numbers using the central office code 988 (e.g. 988-0199), which could have created conflicts given the designation of 988 as a three-digit code for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. As a result, in 2020, the Federal Communications Commission ordered a total of 82 area codes, including 321, to transition to ten-digit dialing for customers in the 321-only area not overlaid by 407. Per the timeline set by the North American Numbering Plan Administrator, permissive dialing began on April 24, 2021, and 10-digit dialing was required on October 24, 2021.[5]
- ^ "3-2-1, Call Cape Canaveral". The New York Times. November 23, 1999. Section F, page 6. Retrieved March 2, 2011.
- ^ Mehta, Stephanie N. (February 26, 1999). "The Kennedy Space Center Acquires A New Area Code: 3-2-1, as in Blast Off". The Wall Street Journal.
- ^ "Phone phreaking, DMCA and Hacking. An interview with Cheshire Catalyst July 2000" on YouTube
- ^ "About Us". Satcom Direct. All such calls go through the service's Melbourne data center. (The company headquarters are in Melbourne.)
- ^ "Transition to 10-digit dialing (for 988 as 3-digit access to National Suicide Prevention Hotline)" (PDF). NANPA. January 8, 2021. Retrieved March 9, 2021.