10-digit dialing begins today

Beginning today, north Alabama residents can practice dialing 10-digits for local calls.

The 256 area code will be the first in Alabama to require 10-digit dialing for local calls. Dialing the extra digits will allow a new area code to overlay the 256 area code in north and east Alabama. The new area code for the region, which takes effect July 10, will be 938. North and east Alabama residents will be required to use 10-digit dialing as of June 5. Until then, participation in 10-digit dialing is voluntary.

Sue Sperry, a spokeswoman for AT&T, said there is no long distance fee for using 10-digit dialing. "You won't be dialing a 1 before the number, she said. "It will still be a local call."

Troy Rutland, general manger of National Telephone of Alabama's Cherokee division, said calls that were local Friday will still be local today whether they are dialed with seven or 10 digits.

Darrell Baker, telecommunications director for the Alabama Public Service Commission, said the switch to 10-digit dialing was needed because the 256 area code is expected to run out of telephone numbers by 2011.

In the past when an area code began to exhaust its supply of telephone numbers in Alabama, the calling zone was split into two area codes. Baker said the overlay will not require anyone to change stationery, business cards and other items with a telephone number printed on them to reflect a new area code.

Rutland said that after the 938 area code goes into effect in July, next-door-neighbors around the Shoals could have different area codes.

Speery said 10-digit dialing is common in most large cities and is spreading to all areas of the country.

Baker said area code overlays are the wave of the future.

"Mississippi is using overlays; Florida has them; Georgia does; everybody is going to overlays," he said. "The good thing about using overlays is once you go to one, your phone number never changes when a new area code is added."

The Public Service Commission approved the area code overlay for north and east Alabama in March after the change was proposed by North American Numbering Plan to avert exhausting the supply of telephone numbers in the region.

Baker expects overlays will soon be used in other parts of Alabama. Both the 205 and 334 area code regions are expected to run short of phone numbers within four years.

Dennis Sherer can be reached at 740-5746 or dennis.sherer@TimesDaily.com.