News from the Oklahoma Corporation Commission

Office of Public Information -- Phone: (405) 521-4180 FAX (405) 521-6945

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Patrick K. Petree Reference: OCC33098-23

580 Area Code Calls Must be Placed Directly Beginning April 1

OKLAHOMA CITY -- Corporation Commissioners Ed Apple, Bob Anthony and Denise Bode remind Oklahoma telephone customers that calls placed to exchanges in the new 580 area code must use that area code designation beginning Wednesday, April 1.

Since last November, when the new area code was activitated, calls into the 580 area code zone have been completed using either the 580 or the former 405 area code designation.

Beginning April 1, incorrectly dialed calls will be intercepted and a recorded message will give callers the correct area code information needed for placing the call. The call intercept and information service will continue until June 1. After June 1, a misdialed call will reach an incorrect number or no number.

Commissioner Bode said the commission doesn't expect the April 1 procedure change to cause any problems but wanted to again alert the public to the change. "The transition has gone pretty smoothly, and this is just another transitional step. Oklahomans realize that the need for the new area code is a result of telecommunications growth. Oklahoma just ran out of numbers. This is a good indicator of growth and modernization within the state," she said.

Creation of the 580 area code transferred 236 exchanges from the 405 area code. The 580 area code serves customers in the western half and north-central, south-central and southeastern sections of Oklahoma.

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