6.30.23 – AR 870-327 Area Code Industry Team
Attention: Alarm, Security, and Elevator Service/Equipment Providers
To ensure a continuing supply of telephone numbers, the Arkansas Public Service Commission approved the addition of the new 327 area code to the geographic region served by the 870 area code. This process is known as an area code overlay.
What is an area code overlay?
An overlay is the addition of another area code (327) to the same geographic region as an existing area code (870). An overlay does not require customers to change their existing area code but does require using a new dialing procedure to complete calls.
What will be the new dialing procedure?
The new dialing procedure will require that all calls in the 870 area code that are currently dialed with seven digits will need to be dialed using area code + telephone number. The same dialing procedure will apply to telephone numbers that are assigned in the new 327 area code.
How does this affect providers of alarm and security services and equipment?
As a result of the overlay, a new local dialing procedure requires callers to dial area code + telephone number.
Alarm, security, and elevator services and equipment currently located in the 870 area code and programmed to dial only seven digits must be updated or reprogrammed to dial area code + telephone number for all calls in the 602 and 623 area codes.
Reprogramming of alarm equipment should be completed by January 19, 2024.
When will the change begin?
Effective July 21, 2023, the new dialing procedure should be used whenever a call is placed from the 870 area code. If the caller forgets and dials just seven digits, the call will still be completed.
Beginning January 19, 2024, the new dialing procedure must be used, as described above. On and after this date, if callers do not use the new dialing procedure, calls will not complete. A recording will instruct the caller to hang up and dial again including the area code.
What will remain the same?
- Telephone number, including current area code, will not change.
- The price of a call, coverage area, or other rates and services will not change due to the boundary elimination overlay.
- What is a local call now will remain a local call regardless of the number of digits dialed.
- Emergency services can still dial just three digits to reach 911 or 988.
- If 211, 311, 411, 511, 611, 711, or 811 are currently available in your community, these calls may still be dialed using just three digits.
Who may you contact with questions?
Customers with questions regarding the dialing procedure change should be directed to their local service provider, or they can contact the Arkansas Public Service Commission at https://apsc.arkansas.gov/utilities/telephone/
Sincerely,
Chairs for the AR 870-327 Area Code Industry Team:
- Sharon Poer, sharon.poer@att.com
- Dale Holcombe, dale.g.holcombe@brightspeed.com
- Rita Schmitz, rita.schmitz@lumen.com