Coming Soon - NEW Area Codes in Middle Tennessee

Dec 31, 2014 at 09:57 am by bryan


Starting in the spring of 2015, anyone applying for new phone service in nearby DeKalb County or elsewhere in north central middle Tennessee can expect to get a new area code once the availability of (615) area code numbers is exhausted. Ten digit local dialing will also be required to complete a call.

The Tennessee Regulatory Authority recently announced plans to implement the new (629) area code. Known as an 'Area Code Overlay,' this change ensures availability of an ongoing supply of telephone numbers. "The state TRA some time ago put out a comments page on their website and asked the people who lived in the 615 area code area if they would like to have another area code split, which is what happened when the 615 and 931 area codes came about, or if they would like to have an overlay. The overwhelming response was an overlay which means that a 629 area code will come into effect in March. They will have to start issuing new numbers under the 629 and 615 area codes," Craig Gates, Chief Executive Officer of DTC Communications told partner news station WJLE.

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The reason for the change is because the existing supply of 615 area code numbers is running out. "Across America, ever since cell phones came into being and in 1996 with the advent of the Competitive Local Exchange Carriers (CLEC) and later IP or Voice Over Internet Carriers, everybody has been gobbling up the phone number pool that exists and they are running out of numbers with the plan they have," said Gates.

According to rules of the Federal Communications Commission, when two area codes serve the same region, callers are required to change the way they dial local calls. While customers do not have to change their existing area code or phone number, they will be required to ten-digit dial all local calls (area code and seven-digit telephone number. " Even though you're going to dial ten digits instead of seven, it's still a local call. But you will have to dial ten digits. Eleven digits will be used for long distance calling ," said Gates.

In addition to landlines, ten digit dialing will also apply to cell phones, fax machines, and other communication systems .

Beginning February 28, 2015, everyone in the 615 area code will be required to dial ten digits (area code + telephone number) and starting March 28, 2015, new telephone lines or services may be issued numbers using the 629 area code, if 615 numbers are no longer available.

Source:

Partner Station WJLE

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