How much advance notice is given to customers prior to an area code change?
A. For each new area code change in the Qwest territory, there are two distinct time periods, the “transition” and the “mandatory” dialing periods. The transition dialing period may vary from four months up to a year and is designed to allow customers time to prepare for an area code change. This time should be used to reprogram special features and establish new dialing patterns. During this time, customers can dial either the new or the old area code. If 10-digit local dialing is in effect, either the seven- or 10-digit phone number can be dialed. The transition period allows businesses adequate time to contact their equipment vendors to make changes in their telephone equipment. The mandatory dialing date is on the day when it becomes necessary to use only the new area code to complete calls. If you dial the wrong area code after the mandatory dialing date, a recording asks you to re-dial using the new area code. If 10-digit dialing is in effect, local calls must be dialed using 10
