New 872 Area Code Coming to City of Chicago
Today, the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) and the City of Chicago reminds the residents of Chicago, presently served by area codes 312 and 773, of a third area code being introduced on Saturday November 7, 2009. The 872 area code will overlay the 773 and 312 area codes to supplement the telephone number supply and thus require 11-digit dialing in the City of Chicago.
Beginning on November 7, 2009, all calls must be dialed 1+ Area Code + Telephone Number. Residents will no longer be able to dial seven digits to a local number inside their area code. Residents are reminded that their phone number(s) will not change. The only thing that will change is the way they dial the number. With the 872 area code, current customers will keep their existing phone numbers as well as their 312 or 773 area codes.
“For nearly 15 years, Illinois has led the nation in creative and effective methods in number conservation. Our number pooling efforts here have forestalled the need for the new 872 area code for nearly a decade,” said Charles E. Box, Chairman of the Illinois Commerce Commission.
“Residents and businesses should prepare for 11-digit dialing by ensuring any equipment with automatic dialing features is programmed with all 11 digits to avoid any interruptions in communication,” said Norma I. Reyes, Commissioner of the Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection.
Modems, faxes, or phone equipment set on auto dial, will have to be re-programmed to dial 11 digits instead of seven digits. Residents may need to reprogram other equipment such as fax machines, dial-up modems, internet connections, multi-line key or PBX systems, or any equipment with automatic dialing features.
Consumers seeking additional telephone lines will, in most cases, continue to be able to obtain 312 and 773 telephone numbers, even after the 872 area code is in service.
How an Overlay Area Code Works – With an overlay, an additional area code is added to the same geographic area as the existing area code, with all current phone customers retaining the original area code. New telephone customers for local phone service, cellular and paging services, and alarms, for example, assigned in the same area may receive telephone numbers in the new overlay area code.
The FCC requires that all telephone calls made in the overlay area be completed by dialing the full, 10-digit number (area code + seven digit number). This includes calls currently dialed with seven digits in the existing area code.
This requirement does not affect the cost of the call. A local call will remain a local call, and a toll call will remain a toll call, regardless of the number of digits that are dialed to complete it.
Area code overlays are in place in 21 states, including four in Illinois. (630/331, 847/224, 815/779 and now, 312/773/872).
For more information or questions residents should visit www.icc.illinois.gov
