Ohio Goes 10-digit Dialing Saturday, Adds '380' Area Code Soon

COLUMBUS — Using the phone is about to change in Columbus. 380 is the new area code people will start to see in central Ohio.

Anyone with a 614 number will be able to keep that number, but starting on January 30th, people will need to dial the area code even when calling next door.

For the next month, people will still be able to get a new 614 number. "It'd be a 614 area code," said Abraham Hamed at Julian Wireless in West Columbus.

The new 380 numbers will be given out starting February 27th.

"When I see someone calling my phone (with a 380 number), I'm going to think they're from Texas or some crazy state," said AJ Lee.

The area code 614 has been synonymous with Columbus for years. At 61Pho in Clintonville, the area code is at the core of their Vietnamese restaurant.

"We were playing on the misnomer that everyone pronounced 'pho' (incorrectly)," said the owner Lisa Bui-Capotosta. "With the new area code, we would have to come up with a new pun."

A Vietnamese-themed pun with 380? "Pho" get about it. "3-8-Pho? I don't know," she said. "We thought with 740, 7-Pho-0 and we could move into that area but we'll have to put our heads together on 380."

Anyone with seven-digit numbers saved in their cell phone will need to add the area code to make a call.

EARLIER STORY

Don't forget! Starting Saturday, all local calls made within the Ohio 614 area code must be placed using the 10- or 11-digit telephone number. This is area code plus the seven-digit telephone number or 1 + area code + seven-digit telephone number.

Also, Ohio's adding a 380 area code. Starting February 27, customers in the 614 area code region who request new service, an additional line or, in some cases, move their service may be assigned a number in the new 380 area code.

To ensure a continuing supply of telephone numbers, the new 380 area code will be added to the 614 area code region, which generally covers the central region of Ohio. The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio ordered an area code overlay for the area served by 614. The new 380 area code will be "overlaid" or superimposed over the same geographical area as the 614 area code.

Residential and business customers within the existing 614 area code should be prepared for the introduction of the new 380 area code.

On Saturday, 10- or 11-digit dialing (area code plus the seven-digit telephone number or 1 + area code + telephone number) will be necessary for local and expanded local calls to be completed. Local calling areas and rates will not be affected by this change.

The most important facts that consumers and businesses need to know about the upcoming 380 area code overlay are:

• Your telephone number, including current area code, will not change.
• You will need to dial area code + telephone number for all local calls.
• You will continue to dial 1+ area code + telephone number for all long distance calls.
• What is a local call now will remain a local call.
• The price of a call, coverage area or other rates and services will not change due to the overlay.
• You can still dial just three digits to reach 911.
• If 211, 311, 411, 511, 611, 711 or 811 are currently available in your community, you will still dial these codes with just three digits.

Customers should identify their telephone number as a 10-digit number (area code + seven digit telephone number), and include the area code when giving the number to their friends, family, business associates, customers, etc.

Customers should ensure that all services, automatic dialing equipment, applications, software or other types of equipment recognize the new 380 area code as a valid area code. Some examples are life safety systems, fax machines, Internet dial-up numbers, alarm and security systems, gates, speed dialers, mobile phone contact lists, call forwarding settings, voicemail services and similar functions. Be sure to check your business stationery, advertising materials, personal checks and your personal or pet ID tags to ensure the area code is included in your telephone number. Remember that all local calls must be programmed using 10 digits and you need to add "1" for all long distance calls.

For more information, please visit www.PUCO.ohio.gov or call the PUCO Call Center at (800) 686-PUCO (7826).