OKLAHOMA CITY – A fifth area code will be introduced in Oklahoma starting April 24 next year and will affect dialing procedures.
Area code 572 will overlay the existing 405 area code and will cover the same geographic region of central Oklahoma.
According to “Whitepages,” 405 is one of 269 three-digit area codes in the United States, and covers more than 1.96 million unique telephone numbers and 5.35 million individuals.
The new area code will be added to ensure a continuing supply of telephone numbers. The overlay will not require customers to change their existing area code but will require 10-digit dialing of even local calls.
To complete local calls, the new dialing procedure will require callers to dial the area code plus the seven-digit telephone number. This means that all calls in the 405 area code that currently are dialed with seven digits will need to be dialed using the area code along with the telephone number. The same dialing procedure will apply to telephone numbers that will be assigned to the new 572 area code.
Effective April 24, 2021, callers in the 405 area code must use the new dialing procedures for all calls. After this date, if you do not use the new dialing procedures, your calls will not be completed, and a recording will instruct you to hang up and dial again.
New telephone lines or services may be assigned numbers using the new 572 area code beginning May 24, 2021.
In addition to changing dialing procedures, all services, automatic dialing equipment, or other types of equipment that are programmed with a seven-digit number will need to be reprogrammed to use the new dialing procedures. Some examples are life safety systems, PBXs, fax machines, Internet dial-up numbers, alarm and security systems, gates, speed dialers, call forwarding settings, voicemail services, etc. You also may want to check your business stationery or advertising materials to ensure the area code is included.
• Your telephone number, including current area code, will not change.
• The price of a call, coverage area, or other rates and services will not change due to the overlay.
• What is a local call now will remain a local call regardless of the number of digits dialed.
• You can still 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.
Anyone with questions about information provided in this notice should call your local telephone service provider; visit the Oklahoma Corporation Commission’s website at https://oklahoma.gov/occ.html; or contact the commission’s Public Utility Division Consumer Services, open Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., at 405- 521-2331 or via email at CS@occ.ok.gov.
The 405 area code went into service on January 1, 1947, and covers all or portions of 19 counties, 91 cities and towns, in the central area of the state. The 405 region includes the Oklahoma City metroplex, the State Capitol, Norman, Edmond, Guthrie, Yukon, El Reno, Shawnee, Stillwater, Chickasha and Tuttle.
Area code 580, which covers all or parts of 56 counties in western and southern Oklahoma, was created on November 1, 1997, in a split from the 405 area code. It serves most of western and southern Oklahoma: from the Panhandle east to Ponca City, south to Hollis and the Red River, and east to Idabel, Eagletown and Tom in McCurtain County. The 580 area code encompasses all of Comanche, Cotton Stephens, Jackson, Kiowa, Jefferson, Tillman, Greer and Harmon counties.
The 918 area code was created in 1953 in a split from 405 and covers all or parts of 29 counties in northeastern Oklahoma, including Tulsa and its suburbs. Area code 539 was created as an overlay for 918 and became active on April 1, 2011.