Ten-digit local dialing coming to South Carolina's 803 area code

Central South Carolina residents and businesses in the 803 area code will need to dial 10-digits

Starting April 25, all residential and business consumers throughout central South Carolina’s 803 area code will need to make calls using the 10-digit telephone number (area code + the 7-digit telephone number).  Calls that are now local will continue to be local, even with the 10-digit dialing requirement.

This will impact TDS Telecom (TDS) customers in areas of North, Norway and Williston, South Carolina.

The South Carolina Public Service Commission (PSC) ordered an area code overlay for the 803 Area Code on July 26, 2018.  An overlay does not require customers to change their existing area code.  

To ensure a continuing supply of telephone numbers, the new 839 area code will be added. Beginning May 26, 2020, new telephone lines or services may be assigned numbers using the new 839 area code.  

Customers should note that:

·         Your current telephone number, including current area code, will not change.

·         If you seek new phone service after May 26, 2020, you may be assigned a phone number with the 839 area code.

·         You will need to dial area code + telephone number for all local calls.

·         You will continue to dial 1 + area code + telephone number for all long distance calls.

·         What is a local call now will remain a local call.

·         The price of a call, coverage area, or other rates and services will not change due to the overlay.

·         You can still dial just three digits to reach 911.  You can also dial three digits to reach 211 and 811, as well as 311 and 511, where available.  

Please remember to let others know your telephone number is a 10-digit number (Area Code + 7-digit telephone number), and include the area code when giving the number to friends, family, business associates and customers, etc.   

Customers should ensure all services, automatic dialing equipment, applications, software, or other types of equipment recognize the new 839 area code as a valid area code.  Examples include life-safety systems, fax machines, internet dial-up numbers, alarm and security systems, gates, ankle monitors, speed dialers, mobile phone contact lists, call forwarding settings, voicemail services, and similar functions.

Business stationery, advertising materials, personal checks, and personal or pet ID tags should be updated to include the 803 area code in your telephone number.  

Important safety and security equipment, such as medical alert devices, and alarm and security systems must be programmed to use 10-digit dialing.  Many systems operate on 10-digit dialing by default but some older equipment may still use 7 digits.  Please contact your medical alert or security provider if you are not sure whether your equipment needs to be reprogrammed to accommodate the upcoming change to 10-digit local dialing.  Any needed reprogramming of alarm and home security equipment should be done before April 25.  

Remember that all local calls must be programmed using 10-digits and you need to add ‘1’ for all long distance calls.