Starting February 21, you will have to dial 1+ 415 when calling fellow 415 numbers, a move necessitated by the addition of the 628 area code, which will issued to new telephone lines and services in the area starting in late March.
While Milll Valley residents have long been accustomed to not dialing an area code when calling anywhere in Marin or San Francisco counties, that will change beginning February 21. In order to incorporate the new 628 area code, which is being added to the area to account for increasing consumer demand and a dearth of available 415 phone numbers, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) is set to require that all residents and businesses with 415 area code telephone numbers must dial 1+ the area code + phone number when making all direct dial calls. The Commission approved the new area code in December 2013.
According to the CPUC, the 415 area code generally covers the County of San Francisco, most of Marin and a small portion of San Mateo County; serving the communities of Belvedere, Brisbane, Corte Madera, Daly City, Fairfax, Ignacio, Inverness, Larkspur, Mill Valley, Nicasio, Novato, Point Reyes, Ross, San Anselmo, San Francisco, San Rafael, Sausalito, Stinson Beach and Tiburon.
Here are a few tips about the transition:
According to the CPUC, the 415 area code generally covers the County of San Francisco, most of Marin and a small portion of San Mateo County; serving the communities of Belvedere, Brisbane, Corte Madera, Daly City, Fairfax, Ignacio, Inverness, Larkspur, Mill Valley, Nicasio, Novato, Point Reyes, Ross, San Anselmo, San Francisco, San Rafael, Sausalito, Stinson Beach and Tiburon.
Here are a few tips about the transition:
- Deadline. Beginning February 21, direct dialed calls from 415 phone numbers will not go through unless dialed as 1 + the area code + phone number.
- Phone numbers and pricing unchanged. The new dialing procedure will not change existing 415 phone numbers or the cost of the call. Calls that are in a consumer’s local calling area remain local calls.
- Dialing 9-1-1 unaffected. Consumers can still dial three digits to reach 911, as well as 211, 311, 411, 511, 611, 711 and 811 where they are available.
- Reprogram automatic dialers. Automatic dialing equipment must be reprogrammed to use the new dialing procedure, including: life safety systems, fax machines, Internet dial-up numbers, alarm and security systems, gates, speed dialers, call forwarding settings, voicemail services, and similar functions.
Phone numbers with the new 628 area code will be issued beginning March 21. These numbers will share the same local calling area as 415 numbers have today.
Click here for more information or visit your service provider’s website.
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