New 353 Area Code Begins Sept. 15 in Wisconsin

With new telephone numbers running out in the 608 area code, the Public Service of Wisconsin (PSC) approved an all-services area code overlay for the 608 area code region. 

Beginning Sept. 15, 2023, a new 353 area code will serve Southwest and Southcentral Wisconsin customers. The new 353 will cover the same geographic area currently served by the existing 608 area code.

TDS Telecommunications (TDS^®) has alerted its customers in Albany, Alma, Bagley, Baraboo, Beetown, Beloit, Black Earth, Blanchardville, Bloomington, Browntown, Cassville, Cottage Grove, Cross Plains, DeForest, Dickeyville, Fennimore, Janesville, Juda, Lancaster, Lodi, Madison, McFarland, Merrimac, Middleton, Milton, Monroe, Monticello,  Mount Hope, Mount Vernon, Necedah, New Glarus, Oregon, Portage, Potosi, Sauk City, Stoughton, Sun Prairie, Verona, Waunakee, Witwen, Woodford, and Woodman, Wisconsin.   

Customers in the 608 area code overlay region may be assigned the 353 area code when they request new service or an additional line.  Customers receiving a 353 area code will be required to dial 10 digits (the area code and phone number) for all local calls, just as customers with telephone numbers from the 608 area code do today.

What is an Area Code Overlay?

An overlay is the addition of another area code (353) to the same geographic region as an existing area code region (608).  The overlay does not require you to change your existing area code or phone number, or how you dial your calls.  You will continue to dial the area code and phone number for all local calls, as you do today, within and between the 608 and new 353 area codes.

What will you need to do?

Customers in the overlay region should:

• Continue to dial 10 digits for all local calls, including calls within the same area code.
• Continue to identify your telephone number as a 10-digit number, and include the area code when giving the number to friends, family, business associates, customers, etc.
• Ensure that all services, automatic dialing equipment, or other types of equipment recognize the new 353 area code as a valid area code and continue to store or program telephone numbers as 10-digit numbers. Some examples are: stored telephone numbers in contact lists in wireless phones, PBXs, fax machines, Internet dial-up numbers, speed dialers, call forwarding settings, voicemail services, medical alert devices, safety alarm security systems and gates, or other similar equipment.
• Check items such as your website, personal and business stationery and printed checks, advertising materials, contact information, and your personal or pet ID tags to ensure the area code is included.

What will remain the same?

• 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.
• You will continue to dial 10 digits for local calls within and between the overlay area code, and 1+10 digits for long distance calls.
• You can still dial just three digits to reach 911 and 988, as well as 211, 311, 411, 511, 611, 711 or 811 if those are currently available in your community.

Who may you contact with questions?

If you have any questions regarding information provided in this notice, please call TDS Telecommunications at 888-CALL-TDS  (888-225-5837) or visit www.tdstelecom.com for more information.  You may also visit the Public Service Commission’s website at https://psc.wi.gov/Pages/ForConsumers/MoreResources/AreaCodeExhaustion.aspx.