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Ten-digit local dialing is coming to 570 area code in Pennsylvania
[March 29, 2013]

Ten-digit local dialing is coming to 570 area code in Pennsylvania


(ENP Newswire Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) ENP Newswire - 29 March 2013 Release date- 28032013 - Beginning today, Pennsylvania residents and businesses in the 570 area code can start dialing ten digits - area code + telephone number - when making local calls.



Beginning Sept. 21, 2013, everyone in the 570 area code will be required to dial ten digits (area code + telephone number).

TDS Telecommunications Corp. (TDS) is alerting residents and businesses in northeastern Pennsylvania of the upcoming changes. The Pennsylvania Public Utilities Commission approved the addition of the 272 area code. This change, known as an 'Area Code Overlay' affects Pennsylvania residents served by the 570 area code in communities such as Scranton, Williamsport and Wilkes-Barre. The change ensures availability of an ongoing supply of telephone numbers in northeastern Pennsylvania.


When two area codes serve the same region, rules of the Federal Communications Commission require callers to change the way they dial local calls. While customers do not have to change their existing area code or phone number, they will be required to ten-digit dial all local calls (area code and seven-digit telephone number).

What consumers and businesses need to know about the area code overlay: Existing phone numbers in the 570 area code will not change.

The price for calls, local and long-distance calling areas, and other rates and services provided by TDS will not change due to the new Area Code Overlay. What's a local call now remains a local call, regardless of the number of digits dialed.

The dialing procedure for long distance or operator assisted calls will not change.

911 remains a three-digit dial. If 211, 311, 411, 511, 611, 711 and 811 are available currently, they will remain a three-digit dial.

Dates to keep in mind Effective immediately: 'permissive' ten-digit dialing period begins; callers should begin using the new dialing procedure. If callers forget to use the area code and dial only the seven-digit number, calls will be completed during this permissive phase.

September 21, 2013: 'mandatory' ten-digit local dialing begins. Customers in the 570 area code must use ten-digit dialing for all local calls, otherwise, calls will not be completed and a recording will instruct callers to hang up and dial again.

October 21, 2013: Phone numbers with the new 272 area code may begin to be assigned.

In addition to changing dialing procedures, customers are encouraged to begin reprogramming automatic dialing equipment and other devices programmed with seven digits. This includes PBX systems, electronic telephone sets, auto-dial systems, multi-line key systems, life safety systems, fax machines, Internet dial-up numbers, alarm and security systems, gates, speed dialers, call forwarding settings, and voicemail services. All such devices will need to be reprogrammed with ten-digits (area code + telephone number) by Sept. 21, 2013.

Customers should also check with security or alarm companies to make sure their systems are programmed to handle the new dialing pattern.

For more information, please visit http://www.puc.state.pa.us/consumer_info/telecommunications/area_codes.aspx or contact TDS at 888-CALL-TDS (888-225-5837).

For more information contact: Cindy Tomlinson, Associate Manager - PR / TDS Telecommunications Corp. / 608-664-4471 / [email protected] TDS Telecommunications Corp. (TDS) is the seventh largest local exchange telephone company in the U.S. Headquartered in Madison, Wis. it is a wholly owned subsidiary of Telephone and Data Systems, Inc. For 44 years, the company has been connecting people with high-speed Internet, phone, and TV entertainment services in over a hundred rural, suburban, and metropolitan communities across 32 states. Today, TDS has nearly 1 million customer connections in service and 2,900 employees. Business customers select from the latest technologies, including: VoIP (managedIP Hosted) phone service, dedicated high-speed Internet and hosted-managed services. Visit tdstelecom.com or tdsbusiness.com for more information.

TDS Telecommunications Corp. also manages the operations of TDS Hosted & Managed Services, LLC (TDS HMS) which consists of OneNeck IT Services Corp., Vital Support Systems, and VISI Inc. TDS HMS is a wholly owned subsidiary of Telephone and Data Systems Inc. The business unit is growing rapidly; now employing more than 500 people throughout the U.S. TDS HMS companies specialize in engineering and management of IT infrastructure, including: hosted application management, managed hosting, and ReliaCloud enterprise cloud services. TDS HMS owns and operates Tier 3 data centers in Iowa, Minn., and Wis. Visit oneneck.com, vitalsite.com, visi.com, and reliacloud.com for more information.

Telephone and Data Systems, Inc. [NYSE: TDS], a Fortune 500 company, provides wireless; broadband, TV and voice; and hosted and managed services to approximately 7 million customers in 36 states through its business units, U.S. Cellular, TDS Telecommunications Corp. and TDS Hosted & Managed Services. Founded in 1969 and headquartered in Chicago, Telephone and Data Systems and its subsidiaries employ more than 12,000 people. For investment information, visit teldta.com.

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