New area code for eastern Oklahoma [telecom]

Wes Leatherock snipped-for-privacy@aol.com snipped-for-privacy@yahoo.com (mailto: snipped-for-privacy@yahoo.com)

New area code coming soon to eastern Oklahoma Residents of Oklahoma's

918 telephone area code may begin using 10-digit dialing for local calls as soon as Saturday, although they won't be required to do so until March. Northeast _Oklahoma_ area code test period begins Saturday

A seven-month "permissive calling period" begins Saturday for Oklahoma residents in the 918 area code. That area code, which serves _Tulsa_

and much of eastern Oklahoma, is running out of new telephone numbers, so numbers with a new 539 area code will become available next spring.

The overlay plan approved by state regulators in January means eastern Oklahoma residents will have to dial 10 digits - the area code and phone number - on all local calls. That change won't be required until March 5, but the permissive calling period allows residents time to acclimate. Numbers with the new 539 area code will be available April 1, but telephone customers still will be able to request 918 numbers as long as they are available, according to the _Oklahoma Corporation Commission_

The remaining 918 numbers are expected to run out by the last quarter of 2012. The new area code will be Oklahoma's fourth, joining 918, 405 and 580. An area code can accommodate about 7.8 million telephone numbers, according to the North American Number Plan, which serves 19 North American countries.

_JAY F. MARKS_

, Business Writer

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