Officials with the Missouri Public Service Commission, the North American Numbering Plan Administrator (NANPA) and the telecommunications industry remind phone customers to continue preparing for a new area code, 235, to be used in the current 573 area code region.
As part of the process of introducing the new area code, customers will be required, starting Saturday, to use 10-digit local dialing.
The 235 area code will be added as an overlay to the 573 region. An overlay is the addition of another area code to the same geographic region served by an existing area code, meaning both area codes will be in use, officials explain.
Customers will not need to change their existing area code, but the overlay does require customers to dial the area code to complete local calls.
“The 573 area code is not going away,” said commission Chair Kayla Hahn. “If you have a telephone number with the 573 area code, you will not lose that number and you will not have to change your telephone number. An overlay will alleviate the exhaustion of available telephone numbers in the 573 area code, and it is a more efficient and less disruptive way to accomplish that.”
A six-month permissive dialing period started Aug. 26, 2023 to give consumers time to adjust to the dialing changes. During this period, local calls could be made with either seven or 10 digits, and all local calls continued to be local even when callers dialed 10 digits.
Starting Saturday, all local calls made within the 573 area code must be placed using 10 digits — the area code plus the seven-digit telephone number. On and after Saturday, calls placed using just seven digits will not be completed.
Starting March 24, said officials, new telephone lines or services may be assigned numbers using the new 235 area code.
Key facts for consumers to know about the upcoming 573/235 area code overlay are that current telephone numbers, including current area code, will not change; what is a local call now will remain a local call after the change; and those seeking new phone service on and after March 24 may be assigned a phone number with the 235 area code. Callers will need to dial the area code and telephone number for all local calls, including calls within the same area code, and will continue to dial 1, plus the area code, plus telephone number for all long distance calls. The price of a call, coverage area or other rates and services will not change due to the overlay, officials assured.
Callers can still dial three digits to reach 911 for emergencies and 988 for mental health crises, as well as 211 for information, 311 for nonemergency complaints and information calls, 511 for the Missouri Department of Transportation Traveler Information line, and 811 to call before digging to have utilities located, where available.
