Minnesota's Telephone Industry:
Minnesota Welcomes New Area Codes: 763 and 952MINNEAPOLIS and ST. PAUL, Minn., Feb. 26 /PRNewswire/ -- On Sunday, February 27, 2000, the region in the Twin Cities now served by Minnesota's 612 area code will be split into three different area codes: 612, 763 and 952.
In drawing the new area code boundary lines, the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission, the decision maker regarding area code changes, carved out a core area consisting of Minneapolis, Richfield, St. Anthony and the Fort Snelling area to keep the 612 area code.
The remainder of the 612 region will be divided roughly in half with the boundary line approximately following Interstate 394. For the most part, the new 763 area code will serve communities located to the north of I-394. The new 952 area code will serve communities located to the south of I-394.
More specifically, the 763 area code will serve Blaine, Brooklyn Center, Circle Pines, Columbia Heights, Delano, East Bethel, Fridley, Golden Valley, Ham Lake, Isanti, Lexington, Medicine Lake, Medina, Montrose, Mounds View, Plymouth, Robbinsdale, Waverly and all other communities located to the north and northwest.
The 952 area code will serve Apple Valley, Bloomington, Burnsville, Eden Prairie, Edina, Hopkins, Lakeville, Minnetrista, Minnetonka, Mound, Orono, St. Louis Park, Watertown, Wayzata and all other communities located to the south and southwest.
The 651 area code is not changing. Telephone customers that received the 651 area code when it was added over a year ago to serve St. Paul and surrounding communities, will keep the 651 area code. Also, Minnesota's 218, 320 and 507 area codes will remain the same.
Transition Period
Following the February 27 effective date, callers will have a ten-month transition, to adjust to the change before use of the new area codes becomes mandatory. During the transition period callers will be able to use either the new or old area code to complete a call. On January 14, 2001, use of the new area codes will become mandatory.
Ten-Digit Local Dialing
One adjustment will be an increase in the number of times Twin Cities area callers must dial ten digits, the three-digit area code plus the seven-digit phone number, to make a local telephone call between area codes. Today, callers know they have to dial ten digits to make a local call between the 612 and 651 area codes. The addition of more area codes means more ten-digit dialing. For example, to place a call from a community north of I-394, which is in the new 763 area code, to someone in a community south of I-394, which is in the new 952 area code, a caller must first dial the area code and then the telephone number.
According to telecommunications industry sources, the question people ask most frequently regarding ten-digit dialing is: "Do I need to dial a "1" before making a ten-digit local call?" The answer is "no." Do not dial a "1" or "0" before the ten-digit local number.
The second most frequently asked question is: "If I dial ten digits on a local call, will I be billed a long distance charge?" Again the answer is "no." If a call was a local call before the area code change, it is still a local call. If a call was long distance before, it is still a long distance call.
During the transition period, callers can dial either seven or ten digits to complete local calls between area codes. Mandatory use of ten-digit dialing for local calls between area codes will begin on January 14, 2001.
Update Records
During the transition period, callers throughout Minnesota should update any phone number lists or data bases to include the correct area code. Homes and businesses that have a new area code should also update stationery, check blanks, business letterhead, promotional items, brochures, catalogs, and other items that list a phone number. It is particularly important that businesses in the Twin Cities area always include the area code with their seven-digit number.
Businesses Encouraged To "Take The Test"
Businesses and organizations across Minnesota that use specialized telephone systems are encouraged to check their telephone equipment to be sure it is capable of completing calls to the new 763 and 952 area codes.
Also, in the Twin Cities area, some specialized telephone equipment may need to be reprogrammed before it is capable of completing ten-digit local calls.
Beginning February 27, 2000, businesses can test their telephone equipment to determine if it can complete calls into the new 763 and 952 area codes by dialing the following test numbers:
-- From within the Minneapolis/St. Paul area call:
763-571-1599 or 952-895-5000
-- From outside the Minneapolis/St. Paul area call:
1-763-571-1599 or 1-952-895-5000
If a call to a test number does not go through, a business should contact their equipment provider. If equipment is not the cause of the problem, a business should contact their local telephone service provider.
Reprogram Dialing Equipment
Also during the transition period, both homes and businesses should make any necessary changes to speed-dialers, auto-dialers, fax machines, call-forwarding arrangements, computer modems and other devices that will be dialing into the new 763 and 952 area codes.
Wireless Phones And Pagers
If you have a wireless phone or pager in the current 612 area code, you may want to check with your provider to determine the area code for your wireless device. Some wireless devices may need to be reprogrammed before January 14, 2001.
Not Unique To Minnesota
Running out of telephone number prefixes is not a problem unique to Minnesota but rather a nationwide phenomenon driven by the dramatic growth in demand for new telephone numbers for such services as fax machines, pagers, wireless telephones and second telephone lines, as well as the many choices in telecommunications providers. There were 86 area codes in 1947 when area codes were first assigned. Today there are over 300 serving North America, and about half of the new area codes have been added in the past four years.
Attachment A provides a list of resources available to provide additional information. Attachment B provides a consumer checklist for the area code change.
ATTACHMENT A - MINNESOTA AREA CODE CHANGE
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
-- The Minnesota Telephone Association's website includes a complete list of prefixes affected by the area code change and other information: http://www.mnta.org
-- U S WEST's website provides answers to the most frequently asked questions and also includes a complete list of prefixes: http://www.uswest.com/areacodes
-- Area code maps are available on the Minnesota Department of Commerce's website: http://www.dpsv.state.mn.us/docs/telecomm/acmapbig.htm
-- Through U S WEST's free fax-on-demand service, callers can have a complete list of prefixes involved in this area code change or a list of new and pending North America area code changes sent directly to their fax machine. Call 1-800-450-6267 and follow the voice prompts.
ATTACHMENT B - MINNESOTA AREA CODE CHANGE
CONSUMER CHECKLIST
Home telephone users with a new area code should:
- Notify your friends, family and others of your new area code.
- Make any changes necessary to printed materials with your telephone number, such as personal stationery and check blanks.
- You may need to reprogram certain special calling features (such as speed calling) to dial the new area codes.
- You may also need to reprogram computer modems, home fax machines or other devices.
Businesses throughout Minnesota should:
- Some telephone equipment used by businesses will not recognize and complete calls to the new area codes until it is reprogrammed or upgraded. If your business uses specialized telephone equipment (often called PBX equipment), electronic telephone sets, or multi-line key systems, you probably need to reprogram your equipment. Contact your telephone system vendor or consultant to ask about the changes that may be needed.
- Beginning February 27, 2000, you will be able to test your business telephone equipment to see if it can complete calls into the new area codes by calling the following test numbers:
Within the Twin Cities local calling area call:
763-571-1599 and/or 952-895-5000
From outside the Twin Cities local calling area call:
1-763-571-1599 and/or 1-952-895-5000
Businesses in the Twin Cities area should also:
- Ensure your telephone equipment is capable of completing a ten-digit local telephone call.
Businesses that will have a new area code should:
- Make changes in such things as stationery, business cards, labels, signs, advertisements, promotional items, brochures, and catalogs.
- Notify your customers, clients and others who call you, that you have a new area code. Tell them they can reach you between February 27, 2000 and January 14, 2001 by calling either your new or old area code. However, beginning January 14, 2001, they can only reach you by using your new area code. Encourage them to ask their operator for assistance if they have trouble calling you.
- Remind your customers throughout the U.S. and the world of the possible need to make changes to their equipment to ensure they can call you in the new area code.
Wireless telephones and pagers:
- Some wireless devices, such as cellular phones and pagers, may need to be reprogrammed by the service provider by January 14, 2001.
Coin-operated telephones:
- Owners of coin-operated telephones are encouraged to contact their equipment vendor for the specific requirements of their equipment.