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Official Site of the Government of Stevens Point, Wisconsin
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Changes Coming for 715 Area Code
on July 17, 2010
All Local Calls Must Be Dialed With 10-Digits.
(The Area Code And The 7-Digit Phone Number)
July 15, 2010
In November 2008, the Public Service Commission
considered area code relief options for the 715 area code (Dockets 5-TN-100) and approved an ‘overlay.’ An overlay
means that another area code – 534 – will start to be placed into use in that part of the state now served by the
715 area code. No customers will need to change their area code or telephone numbers, but all local calls will have to be dialed using 10 digits – the applicable area code and the 7-digit phone number.
Before making this overlay decision, the Commission
explored options, took comments and conducted public hearings at 9 locations throughout the 715 area code.
As the Commissioners noted there is no option for
area code relief that pleases everyone. Both methods of relief, either an overlay or a geographic split, have perceived
“pros and cons.” However, for the 715 area code the Commission found that an overlay is the best alternative because
it allows for the most efficient use of Wisconsin's new numbering resources, it minimizes many potential implementation
problems and it does not impose a financial burden on those customers forced to change their area code – which
happens with a geographic split.
Facts about this change:
- The 534 area code will be added to (or overlaid
on) the area currently served by the 715 area code in order to ensure a continuing supply of telephone numbers.
Since both area codes will serve the same geographic region, residents
making local calls within the 715/534 area will need to dial the correct area code and 7-digit telephone number
(10-digit dialing).
- The need to dial with 10 digits is a requirement
of the Federal Communications Commission, which has ultimate authority over all telephone numbering matters.
- To ease the transition to the new area code and
the new dialing requirement, the Commission ordered a 9-month “permissive dialing” period. During the permissive
dialing period (which began on October 17, 2009, and will end on July 17, 2010) customers were encouraged to use
the 10-digit dialing procedure when making local calls. However, if the caller forgot and dialed only the 7-digit
number, the call still completed.
- Beginning on July 17, 2010, all residents in
the 715 area code must use the new 10-digit dialing procedure for all local calls. This applies to landline phones
and cell phones. After this date, local
calls made without the area code will not complete and a recording will instruct callers to hang up and dial again.
- The dialing procedure for long distance or operator
assisted calls will not change.
- All customers with a 715 area code telephone number
today will keep the 715 area code for that number. All customers will keep their current 7-digit telephone numbers.
Phone numbers with the 534 area code may be assigned in some areas starting August 14, 2010.
- The price of calls, the coverage of local and long-distance
calling areas and other rates and services will not change as a result of the area code overlay. What is now a
local call will remain a local call regardless of the number of digits dialed.
- Residents will continue to dial three digits to
reach 911.
- If 211, 311, 411, 511, 611, 711 and 811 are currently
available in the community, or from the customer's provider, they will continue to dial just three digits for those
uses.
- In addition to changing their local dialing procedure,
residents in the 715 area code will need to reprogram any automatic dialing equipment and any other equipment that
is currently programmed to dial a 7-digit local number. Examples of programmed equipment and features that may
need reprogramming include: PBX systems, life safety systems, fax machines, Internet dial-up numbers, alarm and
security systems, gates, speed dialers, call-forward settings, voice mail and similar services. These devices and
services need to be reprogrammed with the new 10-digit dialing procedure prior to July 17, 2010. Notice of the
need to make these changes has been given over the past several months.
REMEMBER – If you are in the 715 area, start
dialing 10 digits for local calls on July 17!
For additional information regarding area code relief,
please see the Commission's website at: http://psc.wi.gov/utilityInfo/tele/areaCodes/home-areaCodeRelief.htm.
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