A change for those calling from western central Alabama will be taking place this month.
The new 659 area code will see its early implementation stages starting in April, with a plan to begin issuing numbers with this area code by November. 659 will act as an overlay area code, being used hand-in-hand with the 205 area code.
The 205 code, created in 1947, was one of Alabama’s original numbering plan areas, and covered the entire state when it was introduced. The years since for 205 have seen its coverage area shrink, with area code 334 taking over in 1995 for everything from Montgomery and southward, and in 1998 the welcoming of 256 for the northern and eastern portions of the state.
205 does still see use for some callers over the whole state, even here in Cherokee County, but for the most part its coverage is centered on the west-central counties of Alabama. This area includes some of the state’s biggest communities such as Butler, Birmingham, Clanton, Hamilton, Jasper, Pell City, and Tuscaloosa. With that in mind, it’s no surprise the need for numbering relief was a long time coming for the area.
The overlay of 659 will not require customers to change their existing area code, but like for the Cherokee County area and our portion of the state in 2009-2010 with the introduction of the 938 overlay area code, it will require callers to begin using 10-digit dialing in order to call. Starting on April 15th, callers in western Alabama are encouraged to begin adding an area code in front of the typical 7-digit phone number.
The use of just the 7-digit number without the area code will still be allowed, but that ends completely on October 12th and 10-digit dialing will become mandatory for calls to connect. Those who do not use the area code in their dialing following October 12th will hear a recorded message instructing users to hang up and dial again with the area code.
Equipment that is programmed to dial 7 digits, such as life safety systems, fax machines, internet dial up numbers, alarms, or voicemails, will also have to be changed. 911, 311, or other three-digit numbers will not be affected.
Phone numbers that will use area code 659 will start being assigned on November 12th.
Credit to AL.com for the story.