By BRENT MARTIN
St. Joseph Post
A new area code is coming our way.
The 975 area code will be an overlay area code, covering the same geographic area that the current 816 area code covers; mainly the greater Kansas City and St. Joseph areas.
North American Numbering Plan Administrator Heidi Wayman assures 816 area code users that nothing is changing, except that new numbers in the area will be assigned the new area code.
“There shouldn’t be any disruption or change to the consumers,” Wayman tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post. “Their keeping their same phone number. They should already be dialing the area code.”
Customers in the overlay region must dial 10 digits for local calls.
The dramatic increase in phones, due to the popularity of the smart phone, has nearly exhausted the combination of numbers under the 816 area code. Once those numbers have been exhausted, the new 975 area code will take effect.
“It’s just a combination of new technologies and increased consumer demand,” according to Wayman.
The 816 area code serves thousands in western Missouri, including the communities of Kansas City, St. Joseph, Savannah, Richmond, Maysville, Odessa, Adrian, Holden, Lawson, Drexel, and others.
Wayman assures consumers nothing changes, except they will see a new area code soon.
“It’s just really getting the information out that there’s a new area code in the area, that they will see that number.”
Three-digit abbreviated dialing, such as 911, 211, and 988, will not be affected by the addition of the new area code.
You can follow Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.