Prepare to dial 10 numbers for local calls
Chronicle Staff Report
Phone numbers in the Triad are dwindling. This has led the North Carolina Utilities Commission to order a 743 Area Code Overlay for the area currently assigned to the 336 area code to ensure a continuing supply of telephone numbers.
The new 743 area code will be “overlaid” over the same geographical area as the current 336 area code so that two area codes, 743 and 336, will be assigned to the area, generally covering the Piedmont, including the cities of Greensboro, Winston-Salem, High Point, Kernersville, Burlington, North Wilkesboro, Roxboro and Asheboro.
Residential and business customers assigned to the existing 336 area code should prepare for the introduction of the new 743 area code by being prepared to dial 10 digits (area code + seven-digit local telephone number) to complete local calls within their area code calling area.
To help customers prepare for this change and ensure a smooth transition, customers may begin placing local calls by using the new 10-digit local dialing pattern starting on Saturday, Oct. 24. Customers may continue to use seven-digit local dialing until April 22, 2016, when that option will end.
Effective April 23, 2016, all local calls must be placed using the 10-digit telephone number (336 or 743 plus the seven-digit local telephone number).
Beginning May 23, 2016, customers in the 336 area code region requesting new service, adding an additional line, or in some cases moving their service, may be assigned new numbers using either 336 or the new 743 area code.
The most important facts that consumers and businesses need to know about the upcoming 743 area code overlay are:
*Your telephone number, including current area code, will not change, but may if you move your service.
*You will need to dial the area code + seven-digit local telephone number for all local calls.
*For billing purposes, what is a local call now will remain a local call regardless of the number of digits dialed.
*You will continue to dial 1+ area code + seven-digit local telephone number for all long distance calls.
*The price of a call, coverage area, or other rates and services will not change due to the overlay.
