| Everyone in West Virginia should now begin dialing all local calls using the area code + seven-digit telephone number.
Effective February 28, 2009, you must begin using the new, 10-digit local dialing procedure or your call will not be completed and a recording will instruct you to hang up and dial again.
Seven-digit dialing will no longer be available beginning February 28, 2009.
To ensure a continuing supply of telephone numbers, the 681 area code will be added to the same geographic area served by the 304 area code, which is the entire state of West Virginia.
Local Dialing Procedure Change
The new dialing procedure for local calls requires callers to dial the area code + the seven-digit telephone number.
This means that all local calls from the 304 area code that are currently dialed with seven digits will need to be dialed using 10 digits (the area code + the seven-digit telephone number).
The dialing procedure for long distance or operator assisted calls will not change.
In addition to changing your dialing procedure for local calls, all services and equipment that are programmed with a seven-digit number will need to be reprogrammed with a 10-digit number.
Some examples are call forwarding features, life safety systems, fax machines, Internet dial-up numbers, security systems, gates, speed dialers, voice mail services and similar functions.
What Will Remain the Same
- Your telephone number, including current area code, will not change.
- Your local calls are still local calls, even though they must be dialed using 10 digits.
- You can still dial three digits to reach 911 and 411. | 
