Changes To Dialing Procedures Coming To Western New York Later This Year

JAMESTOWN – Changes to the way local phone calls are made will be coming to Western New York later this year.

The Federal Communications Commission, in a notice posted online at DFTCommunications.com, local calls will soon need to include the area code with the local phone number.

The move was previously enacted in nearby Warren County, Pennsylvania after the area was given an additional three-digit area code to expand the telephone network.

In Western New York, a similar move will take full effect on October 24, when both the area code and telephone number must be entered for local calls, otherwise the call cannot be completed as dialed.

Before then residents will need to enter the 716 area code into their mobile phone’s contact list, or other automatic dialing equipment; including medical monitoring devices.