Area Code Overlay Approved for the Ohio 740 Area Code
Attention: Telephone Directory Publishers & Payphone Providers
To ensure a continuing supply of telephone numbers, the new 220 area code will be added to the area served by 740. The new 220 area code will serve the same geographic area currently served by the existing 740 area code, which code generally covers the southeastern portion of the state serving communities such as Athens, Cambridge, Delaware, Jackson, Lancaster, Marion, Newark, Marietta, Portsmouth and Zanesville. This is known as an area code overlay
What is an area code overlay?
An overlay is the addition of another area code (220) to the same geographic region as an existing area code (740). An overlay does not require customers to change their existing 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 or 1 + area code + telephone number. This means that all local calls in the 740 area code that are currently dialed with seven digits will need to be dialed using area code + telephone number or 1 + area code + telephone number.
Telephone Directories covering the 740 area code region must add the new 220 area code information and alert customers in the 740 area code about the new 10 digit and 11 digit local dialing procedure.
What will be the new dialing procedure?
To complete local calls, the new dialing procedure requires callers to dial area code + telephone number or 1 + area code + telephone number. This means that all calls in the 740 area code that are currently dialed with seven digits will need to be dialed using area code + telephone number or 1 + area code + telephone number. The same dialing procedure will apply to telephone numbers assigned to the new 220 area code.
When will the change begin?
Effective September 20, 2014, you should begin using the new dialing procedures whenever you place a call from the 740 area code. If you forget and dial just seven digits, your call will still be completed.
Beginning March 21, 2015, you must use the new dialing procedures, as described above for all calls. After this date, if you do not use the new dialing procedures, your calls will not be completed and a recording will instruct you to hang up and dial again.
Beginning April 22, 2015, new telephone lines or services may be assigned numbers using the new 220 area code.
What will remain the same?
- Your 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 overlay.
- What is a local call now will remain a local call regardless of the number of digits dialed.
- 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.
Who may you contact with questions?
Customers with questions about the dialing procedure change should be directed to their local service provider.
Sincerely,
OH 220/740 Overlay Industry Committee Chairs