10-digit dialing is on its way

For people making local phone calls, their number is up.

By three digits.

People in the 801 area code region will be encouraged, starting today, to use the area code along with the seven-digit phone number to complete local calls. It's in preparation for next year's full implementation of the 385 area code, which will serve the same geographic region.

The Public Service Commission and phone carriers are urging callers to use 10-digit dialing in Davis, Morgan, Salt Lake, Weber and Utah counties through March 1, 2009. During that period, local calls from the 801 region will be completed regardless of whether the caller uses seven or 10 digits.

But those organizations want people to get accustomed to 10-digit local calls during the "permissive dialing" grace period. Beginning March 1, 2009, local calls will require 10 digits to be completed.

"There certainly have been questions that have been asked related to it," said Julie Orchard, spokeswoman for the commission. "Some people are still somewhat afraid to do 10-digit dialing rather than the seven digits that they're used to. They're going to have to experience it, and that's why there's such an advantage to having a long time for the permissive dialing. It's a chance to get used to it."

"We've gotten a few consumer calls but not very many," said Michele Beck, director of the Utah Committee of Consumer Services, which represents individuals and small businesses in utility matters before the PSC. "And we don't have any significant concerns about how it's being implemented. There is a certain amount of confusion among customers, which is why the permissive dialing period is a good idea and a crucially important part of the process."

The commission has issued a news release about the new area code procedures — details are available at www.publicutilities.utah.gov/area-code-overlay.html — and landline and cell-phone carriers included notices about the changes with customer bills in April.

In addition to having callers use 10 digits, the commission and others are asking people to ensure that automatic dialing equipment programmed with seven-digit numbers is reprogrammed to use the 10-digit procedure. They can include cell phone directories, life safety systems, fax machines, Internet dial-up numbers, alarm and security systems, security gates, speed dialers, call forward settings, voice-mail services and similar functions.