(STATEWIDE) – Arkansas residents are gearing up for a significant change in their telephone landscape as the state welcomes the introduction of the new 327 area code on January 19, 2024. The implementation will cover most parts of the state, specifically affecting regions currently served by the 870 area code. Notable cities like El Dorado, Jonesboro, Magnolia, Monticello, Mountain Home, and Pine Bluff will undergo this transition, with Central and Northwest Arkansas remaining unaffected.
The Arkansas Public Service Commission initially approved the overlay district back in 2009, but implementation faced delays in 2012. However, after a considerable period, the new area code is set to become operational. To ease the transition, a “permissive dialing period” has been introduced, allowing callers to test the system and familiarize themselves with the changes.
Starting February 20, 2024, new telephone lines or services may be assigned numbers with the 327 area code. Existing 870 area code customers need not worry about changing their phone numbers; they will retain their current area code within the overlay area. Nevertheless, the introduction of the 327 overlay will mandate 10-digit dialing for all local calls.
Elana Foley, Director of Telecommunications and Consumer Services at the public service commission, explained the dialing process during the transition period. “In the 870 area code, on July 21, callers can make calls using either seven digits or 10 digits,” she said. “We have the permissive dialing period for about six months, and after that, it will be mandatory to dial 10 digits.”
The North American Numbering Plan Administrator, responsible for managing phone number assignments, anticipates that the 870 area code will exhaust its available numbers by the first quarter of 2025. The introduction of the area-code overlay is a common mechanism to meet the growing demand for telephone numbers nationwide, ensuring that customers with 870 area codes can keep their phone numbers without incurring rebranding costs.
Scott Morris, a spokesman for Windstream Holdings Inc., emphasized the routine nature of these changes, stating, “They are routine, required by the growing demand nationwide for telephone numbers.”
During the permissive dialing period, local calls can be made with either seven or 10 digits, and all calls within the 870 area code will continue to be considered local. However, starting January 19, callers in the 870 area code must dial the area code plus the telephone number for all calls, including those within the current 870 region.
Morris assured that the switch to 10-digit dialing would not impact the cost of local phone calls, emphasizing that a local call today would remain local after the dialing change. Emergency calls to 911 also remain unaffected and do not require the area code.
The commission’s initial adoption of the overlay plan in December 2009 was delayed due to successful efforts to conserve telephone numbers. Telecommunications providers contributed by donating unused numbers back to the system, contributing to the postponement.
Arkansas currently has two other area codes, 501 in Central Arkansas and 479 in Northwest Arkansas, providing additional options for telephone numbering in the state.
