State regulators want southern Indiana phone customers to start dialing 10 digits.
Starting this Saturday, March 1, regulators are asking customers in the 812 area code to add the area code to the beginning of the number you’re calling. In other words 555-1234 would become 812-555-1234.
The change is needed to add a new area code to the region, 930, because the 812 code is running out of available numbers.
Seven-digit calls will still go through until September, but officials hope you’ll get in the ten-digit habit before then.
In October, new telephone lines or services may be assigned numbers using the 930 area code. In some cases, a customer with an 812 landline number who moves to a new location may be assigned a 930 number.
The so-called overlay method has been used for all new area code additions is the U.S. since 2008.