Manawa, Ogdensburg phone users will need to dial area code
Telephone users in the Manawa and Ogdensburg areas will need to dial the 920 area code along with the seven-digit number to complete all local calls.
The change will take place Wednesday, Nov. 10, according to Erin Glodowski, director of marketing for Solarus, which provides local telephone service to the two communities.
“This change is in accordance with an order given by the FCC requiring telecommunication providers to implement mandatory 10-digit dialing,” she said.
“Beginning Nov. 10, you will need 10 digits for all local calls,” she said. “On and after this date, local calls dialed with only seven digits will not be completed. Instead, a recording will prompt the caller to hang up and dial again using the 10-digit number. To help callers acclimate to this change, you may begin dialing 10 digits for all local calls today. For the time being, your call will still be completed if you dial seven digits.”
Telephone users may want to update any automatic dialing equipment programmed to complete calls to seven-digit local numbers, Glodowski said.
“Some examples are life safety systems or medical monitoring devices, fax machines, security systems, speed dialers, mobile phone contact lists, call-forwarding settings, voicemail services and other similar functions,” she said. “Businesses are encouraged to update their websites, stationary, advertising materials, business checks and other such items to ensure their phone number is up to date.”
Local calls will remain local and callers will not be charged long distance rates even though they are dialing with an area code, Glodowski said.
“Additionally, you can still dial three digits to reach 711 and 911,” she said. “Any 211, 311, 411, 511, 611 or 811 services available in your community can still be reached by dialing their respective three-digit numbers.”
Questions regarding the change can be directed to Manawa’s Solarus office at 920-596-2535.