The state Public Service Commission wants you to start using 10-digit dialing, which will become mandatory for Suffolk County’s 631 area code on June 16, 2016.
Suffolk’s new area code 934 will be rolled out July 16, 2016. The ability to place calls within 631 using 7 digits will end one month before, on June 15, 2016.
As an intermediate step in the implementation of the new area code, the PSC announced Friday, customers may now use 10 digits when dialing within 631. The PSC is urging customers to begin using their area code in all communications and correspondence.
“Customers should ensure that all services, automatic dialing equipment, applications, software, or other types of equipment recognize the new 934 area code as a valid area code,” the PSC said in a press release issued Friday. These include:
- life safety systems
- fax machines
- Internet dial-up numbers
- alarm and security systems
- gates
- speed dialers
- mobile phone contact lists
- call forwarding settings
- voicemail services.
All calls must be programmed using 10-digits and customers will need to add “1” for all calls to area codes other than 631/934.
“Be sure to check your business stationery, advertising materials, personal checks, and your personal or pet ID tags to ensure the area code is included in your telephone number,” the commission advises.
After the change, customers will still able to dial just three digits to reach 911. If 211, 311, 411, 511, 611, 711 or 811 are currently available in your community, you will still dial these codes with just three digits, the PSC said.
Area code 631 was created in 1999 for Suffolk, as a split from area code 516, which remained in use in Nassau County.
Last July, the PSC announced area code 631 would run out of numbers in early 2016. The PSC held hearings in Suffolk last summer to get public comment on the manner of implementing a new area code, considering whether it should be done as an overlay — where new numbers are assigned the new area code — or on a geographic basis, which would require customers in the area assigned the new code to change their numbers.
The PSC chose the overlay option and in December announced the new area code 934.
For additional information see the PSC website.
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