448 area code to precede all new numbers
Ramsey Sullivan
ECB Publishing, Inc.
On Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2019, the Florida Public Service Commission (PSC) approved an area code overlay that will add a new 448 area code to the area now served by the existing 850 area code, including Jefferson County. The PSC's action was prompted by a high demand for new phone numbers in the panhandle. This change will become effective Saturday, Aug. 22.
"Florida's 850 area code is running out of telephone numbers, so this plan is needed to ensure a continuing supply of numbers," said PSC Chairman Art Graham. "Now, the North American Numbering Plan Administrator (NANPA) can begin processing the new area code for efficient implementation in 2021."
According to the PSC, new customers, or requests for additional lines, will be assigned the new area code, beginning March 20, 2021. Existing customers will keep their current telephone numbers, including area code. Once this is fully implemented, all calls in the 850 area code - including local calls - must be dialed using a full ten-digit phone number. The same procedure will apply to numbers assigned the 448 area code.
Saturday, Aug. 22 is when you should begin using the new calling procedure of dialing ten digits. However, if you forget to dial all ten digits, the call will still be completed. Beginning Feb. 20, 2021, the new dialing procedures must be used or your call will not be completed. A recording will
instruct you to hang up and make the call again using the new area code. This does not apply to calling 911. Beginning March 20, 2021, new phone lines or services may begin assigning numbers using the new area code.
The PSC asserts that NANPA is the neutral third-party administrator responsible for forecasting and planning for the exhaust of geographic area codes. An area code reaches "exhaust" when nearly all of the telephone prefixes within that area code are assigned. Prefixes follow the area code and are the first three numbers of a customer's local phone number. A growing population and new technologies that require telephone numbers continue driving the demand for new numbers.
The 850 area code region consists of 18 counties in the Florida Panhandle, including Madison. For additional information, visit www.floridapsc.com.
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