April 4, 2018 at 5:30 p.m.
New 10-digit phone dialing starts in February
By Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission-
Beginning Feb. 7, 2015, all local calls made within the 812 area must be placed using the 10-digit telephone number (area code + the 7-digit telephone number). Calls that are currently local will continue to be local, even though 10-digit dialing will be required. Consumers throughout 812 have had the option of using either 7 or 10 digits to complete local calls since Mar. 1, 2014, to allow ample time to adjust to the changes.
To ensure a continuing supply of telephone numbers, the new 930 area code will be added this year to the 812 region which generally covers the southern third of Indiana including Bloomington, Columbus, Evansville, New Albany, and Terre Haute. The new 930 area code will be "overlaid" or superimposed over the same geographical area as 812.
The Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission (IURC) ordered an area code overlay for the 812 region in July 2013, following a year-long case that included a seven-month public comment period and ten public field hearings throughout southern, south-central, and western Indiana. The Indiana Office of Utility Consumer Counselor (OUCC) filed testimony supporting the overlay method because it is the least disruptive option available.
An overlay is the addition of a new area code to the same geographic region as a pre-existing area code. In this case, the 930 area code is being added to the area currently served by 812. An overlay does not require customers to change their existing area code.
Beginning Mar. 7, 2015, new telephone lines or services may be assigned numbers using the new 930 area code.
The most important facts for consumers to know about the upcoming 930 area code overlay are:
- Your current telephone number, including current area code, will not change.
- If you seek new phone service after Mar. 7, 2015, you may be assigned a phone number with the 930 area code.
- You will need to dial area code + telephone number for all local calls.
- You will continue to dial 1 + area code + telephone number for all long distance calls.
- What is a local call now will remain a local call.
- The price of a call, coverage area, or other rates and services will not change due to the overlay.
- You can still dial just three digits to reach 911. You can also continue to dial three digits to reach 211 and 811, as well as 311 and 511, where available.
Please remember to identify your telephone number as a ten digit number (Area Code + 7-digit telephone number), and include the area code when giving the number to friends, family, business associates and customers, etc.
Customers should ensure that all services, automatic dialing equipment, applications, software, or other types of equipment recognize the new 930 area code as a valid area code. Examples include life safety systems, fax machines, Internet dial-up numbers, alarm and security systems, gates, speed dialers, mobile phone contact lists, call forwarding settings, voicemail services, and similar functions. 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 in your telephone number.
Important safety and security equipment, such as medical alert devices, and alarm and security systems must be programmed to use 10-digit dialing. Many systems operate on 10-digit dialing by default but some older equipment may still use 7-digits. Please contact your medical alert or security provider if you are not sure whether your equipment needs to be reprogrammed to accommodate the upcoming change to 10-digit local dialing.
Remember that all local calls must be programmed using 10-digits and you need to add "1" for all long distance calls.[[In-content Ad]]
