217 Area Code Customers: Be Prepared For New 447 Area Code Introduction

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CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- Some Illinois residents are changing their area code numbers.

The Illinois Commerce Commission issued a reminder Monday to residential and business customers served by the 217 area code to prepare for the introduction of the new 447 area code.

State officials said the 447 area code will be added as an overlay to the region currently served by area code 217 to ensure continuing supply of telephone numbers for the area. The 217 area code is a downstate area code covering much of central Illinois including Springfield, Champaign, and Decatur.

An overlay is the addition of another area code (447) to the same geographic region served by an existing area code (217).

The ICC ordered an area code overlay for the 217 area code on August 15, 2006, to be implemented upon the exhaust of available, unassigned 217 prefixes. An overlay does not require customers to change their existing area code or telephone number.

A six-month permissive dialing period will begin on Aug. 29 to give consumers adequate time to adjust to the changes. During that period, local calls can be made with either 7 or 10- digits.  However, customers are encouraged to dial 10- digits. Local calls will remain local even though you dial 10-digits.

Beginning February 27, 2021, mandatory dialing will occur where all local calls made within the Illinois 217 area code will have to be placed using the 10-digit telephone number (area code + the 7-digit telephone number).

Beginning March 27, 2021, new telephone lines or services may be assigned numbers using the new 447 area code.

The most important facts for consumers to know about the upcoming 217/447 area code overlay are:
  • Your current telephone number, including current area code, will not change.
  • If you seek new phone service after March 27, 2021, you may be assigned a phone number with the 447 area code.
  • You will need to dial area code + telephone number for all local calls.
  • You will continue to dial 1 + area code + telephone number for all long distance calls.
  • What is a local call now will remain a local call.
  • The price of a call, coverage area, or other rates and services will not change due to the overlay.
  • You can still dial just three digits to reach 911. You can also dial three digits to reach 211 and 811, as well as 311 and 511, where available.

For additional information, please visit the ICC website or contact your local telephone service provider.