By: Maria Moore

Beginning tomorrow, Saturday, November 14, your dialing finger will get that much more exercise when every local call you dial will include three extra digits ~ the area code. But then again, most people now use their phone’s address book to dial their frequently-called numbers, so in their case, they’ll only get the extra exercise once ~ to reenter each local number in their address book to now include the area code.

Dialing the area code to make local phone calls isn’t something new: it actually came into effect on May 16 but if you didn’t dial the area code, the call was still connected. As of tomorrow, however, that grace period is over, and if you don’t dial the area code, you just won’t be connected and you’ll hear that familiar voice telling you: “Please hang up and try your call again.”

What Else Will Be Affected?

It’s not just your telephone that will need to be reprogrammed. If you have any of the following, you’d better get reprogramming:

• fax machine;
• internet dial-up numbers;
• alarm and security systems;
• gates;
• speed dialers;
• cell phone contact lists;
• call forwarding settings;
• voicemail services;
• and anything else you can think of.

And just when you think you’re done, be sure to check your business stationery, advertising materials, personal checks, and your personal or pet ID tags to ensure the area code is included.

What Will Not Be Affected?

Three-digit phone numbers for emergency services/social services won’t be affected by the additional area code ~ 911, 211 and 411 will remain the same.

You also do not need to dial the numeral 1 before dialing the area code to complete a local call.

What Does This Mean For The Future?

Including the area codes as part of dialing local calls will allow for the addition of two new area codes ~ overlays ~ which in turn will allow for many new telephone numbers to become available. Those area codes will be:

• 475 which will be added this coming December 12 to the geographic region that is served by the 203 area code;
• 959 will eventually be added to the geographic region serviced by the 860 area code which includes New Hartford. No date has yet been set for the 959 area code to be assigned.

What Will This Cost?

Other than the time necessary to reprogram your devices ~ as well as yourself ~ there is no cost involved in incorporating the area code into your local calls. The cost of a local call stays the same, as well as the cost of your existing services. You may just hear that message: “Please hang up and try your call again” a little more frequently for a while…

For more information: Please contact your local telephone service provider or you may call the Department of Public Utility Control’s Consumer Assistance and Information Unit at 860-827-1553 or 800-382-4586.