Even though more than half the phone numbers in the 847 area code are not in use, the industry wants to launch a new code, a request termed “crazy” by the chairman of the Illinois Commerce Commission.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) -- A new area code is coming to the Chicago suburbs, and state regulators said Wednesday they are helpless to stop it. A 224 area code will be added to the territory northwest ...

The 618 area in southern Illinois, for instance, is expected to run out of new phone numbers late next year. Phone numbers are being handed out quickly as the number of cell phones and pagers grows.