Area Codes

Q.  Why are new area codes necessary?

A.  New area codes are assigned across the country due to diminishing supplies of available telephone number prefixes. This happens due to dramatic growth and the many choices in service providers, significant increases in products and services such as fax machines, pagers, wireless telephones, second telephone lines, voice mail and other competitive offerings.

As a result of additional area codes, 10-digit dialing becomes necessary to complete local phone calls in specific geographic areas. Customers affected by 10-digit dialing will be notified in advance by their local telecommunications provider.

Q.  Who determines how area codes are assigned?

A.  The Numbering Plan Administrators for the U.S. telecommunications industry keep abreast of prefix availability by state. The administrators assure future availability of telephone prefixes by assigning new area codes well before existing prefixes are in danger of running out.

Q.  How much advance notice is given to customers prior to an area code change?

A.  For each new area code change in the Qwest territory, there are two distinct time periods, the "transition" and the "mandatory" dialing periods.

The transition dialing period may vary from four months up to a year and is designed to allow customers time to prepare for an area code change. This time should be used to reprogram special features and establish new dialing patterns. During this time, customers can dial either the new or the old area code. If 10-digit local dialing is in effect, either the seven- or 10-digit phone number can be dialed.

The transition period allows businesses adequate time to contact their equipment vendors to make changes in their telephone equipment.

The mandatory dialing date is on the day when it becomes necessary to use only the new area code to complete calls. If you dial the wrong area code after the mandatory dialing date, a recording asks you to re-dial using the new area code. If 10-digit dialing is in effect, local calls must be dialed using 10 digits after the mandatory date. Any necessary phone reprogramming or business phone system upgrading should be completed before this date to assure that phone calls will be received.

Q.  What phone services will not change due to a new area code?

A.  The following will not change with the introduction of a new area code:

• Local calling areas (geographic areas within which all calls are local and do not require long-distance calling). Some local calls may require 10-digit dialing when calling to a different area code. If your area is affected by 10-digit local dialing, you will be notified in advance by your local telecommunications company.
• Your seven-digit telephone number.
• Emergency calls to 911.
• Calls to 500, 700, 800, 877, 888, 900 and 950 numbers.
• Directory assistance may be handled differently by state. Please check the state-specific section for details or call your telecommunications provider.

Q.  How will a new area code affect my home telephone service?

A.  If you will have a new area code, notify the people who call you. Make plans to change your area code on things such as personal stationery and checks before the mandatory dialing date. Also, be sure to reprogram any automatic-dial, call-forwarding or speed-dial numbers.

Future editions of your local telephone directory should reflect the new area code. Individual customers are responsible for any changes to listings appearing in other directories.

As a direct result of some new area codes being added, 10-digit dialing may become necessary for local phone calls in select areas. Customers affected by this dialing change will be notified by their local telephone provider.

If Qwest is your provider and you experience difficulty calling a new area code after the transition dialing start date, call Qwest Repair to report the problem.

Resident    1 800-573-1311
Business    1 800-954-1211

Note: Some customers may choose not to reprogram their equipment to accept the new area code(s) until just before the mandatory date.

Q.  How are businesses affected by a new area code?

A. If your business uses specialized communications equipment (often called PBX), electronic telephone sets, automatic-dialing or multi-line key systems, you may need to reprogram or upgrade your equipment. Unlike the format used in the past, new area codes may not have a "0" or "1" as their middle digit. As a result, these new area codes may not be recognizable by some business telephone equipment.

You may test your telephone equipment to determine if it recognizes the specific area code number and formats by calling a test number that appears in each state-specific section. If the call goes through, a recording will state you have successfully completed a call to the new area code. If the call does not go through, contact your equipment provider to ask about telephone equipment changes.

As a direct result of new area codes being added, dialing 10-digit local phone numbers may become necessary in select areas. Some telephone systems may also require modification in order to dial a 10-digit local phone number. Questions about changes in telephone equipment should be directed to your equipment vendor.

Any necessary updates or changes must be made prior to the mandatory dialing date to ensure that phone calls will be received.

Note: Some businesses may choose not to modify their telephone systems to accept the new area code until just before the mandatory dialing date.

Consider the following if you have a new area code:

• Notify your customers, clients and others–domestic and international–that you have a new area code.
• Remind your customers of the possible need to make changes to their equipment.
• Tell your employees and customers that during the transition dialing period either the old or new area code may be dialed.
• Use published test numbers to test telephone equipment to determine if it recognizes the new area code.
• Contact your equipment vendor or consultant to determine if your equipment needs to be reprogrammed or upgraded.
• Change your phone number on printed materials such as stationery, business cards, advertisements, promotional items, brochures/catalogs, print and broadcast ads and signage.
• Have your service provider reprogram your cellular telephone and other wireless communications.
• Reprogram features such as automatic-dialing, Speed Dialing and Call Forwarding.
• Internet dial-up connections may need to be reprogrammed or upgraded.
• Future editions of your local telephone directory should reflect new area code changes. You are responsible, however, for any changes to listings appearing in other telephone directories.

In case of difficulty call Qwest Repair at 1 800-954-1211 to report the problem.

Q.  How are users of cellular phones and other wireless communications devices affected?

A.  Users of wireless devices assigned a new area code must have their equipment reprogrammed by their service provider prior to the mandatory dialing date.

Q.  What other communications services might be affected by a new area code?

A.  Other communications services that may be affected are:

• Calling features such as Speed Dialing and Call Forwarding will need reprogramming in order to be used when placing calls within or to new area codes.
• Owners of coin-operated telephones must contact their equipment vendor for specific requirements of their equipment.
• Internet dial-up connections may need reprogramming or upgrading.
• If you have an alarm system, notify your alarm monitoring company of your new area code.

Q.  How do I program my Home Receptionist® or Business Receptionist™ phone to accommodate ten-digit dialing?

A.  To program your Home Receptionist or Business Receptionist phone, do the following:

1. Call 1 800-332-3487 to download the new Receptionist phone activation script.
2. Press the Options key and delete the old area code from your Receptionist phone’s area code list.
3. Edit your directory entries to include the new area code in appropriate local numbers.

Q.  Who is responsible for costs incurred due to an area code change?

A.  Because area code modifications are the result of normal growth, costs incurred for updating systems and revising printed communications are the responsibility of the individual telephone customers.

Q.  How will a new area code impact my directory listing?

A.  If your area code changes, your local telephone directory should reflect the new area code in future publications. Changes to listings appearing in other directories are the responsibility of individual customers.