The 318 area code in northern Louisiana is not changing, but a new area code, 457, now serves the same geographic region. This was done to solve a simple problem: the 318 area code was running out of available phone numbers. This situation is known as number exhaustion.
The addition of the 457 area code is a solution called an area code overlay. It’s the standard method used across the country to supply new phone numbers to a region when the existing area code is full. Here is what you need to know about why this happened and how it affects you.
Why New Numbers Were Needed
The demand for phone numbers has exploded over the last two decades. Think about all the devices that now need a unique number. It’s no longer just about landlines and a single family phone. Today, individuals and families have multiple cell phones, tablets with their own data plans, smart watches, and business lines.
Beyond personal devices, a huge number of other systems also require a phone number to function. Home and business security systems use them to contact monitoring centers. Medical alert devices for seniors need them to call for help. Even some credit card machines and utility meters use phone lines to transmit data. Every time a new service is activated for one of these devices, a phone number is taken from the available pool. The North American Numbering Plan Administrator (NANPA), the organization that manages phone numbers, projected that the 318 area code would run out of numbers. To ensure a continuous supply, they recommended adding a new area code.
How an Area Code Overlay Works
When an area code faces number exhaustion, regulators have two main options: an area code split or an area code overlay.
An area code split involves dividing a region into two separate geographic areas. One area keeps the old area code, while the other area is forced to adopt a new one. This means that millions of people and businesses in the new area would have to change their phone numbers. This is a massive and expensive undertaking. You would have to update your contact information everywhere, from business cards and websites to personal checks and legal documents.
The Louisiana Public Service Commission chose the second option, an area code overlay, to avoid this disruption. An overlay introduces a new area code within the same geographic boundaries as the existing one. This means your existing 318 number does not change. New phone numbers assigned in the region may now be from either the 318 or the new 457 area code. This is a much simpler and less disruptive solution for everyone who already has a number.
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Your Adjustment to Ten-Digit Dialing
The most significant change for you from the overlay is the switch to mandatory ten-digit dialing for all local calls. You can no longer just dial a seven-digit number to call someone across the street. You must dial the full ten-digit number (area code + number) for every call, even for calls within the same area code.
This change is necessary because with two area codes (318 and 457) in the same region, the seven-digit number is no longer a unique identifier. Someone could have the number 555-1234 with a 318 area code, while another person has 555-1234 with a 457 area code. Dialing all ten digits ensures your call connects to the right person.
To adapt to this system, you need to check and update your devices.
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- Go through your mobile phone’s contact list and make sure every local number includes the 318 area code. Most modern smartphones do this automatically, but it is a good idea to check.
- Reprogram any device that uses pre-set numbers to dial out. This includes fax machines, alarm and security systems, medical alert devices, gate openers, and call forwarding settings.
- Review your business and personal materials. Ensure that your phone number is listed with the area code on websites, email signatures, business cards, letterhead, and advertising.
- Update the phone number on personal items like pet ID tags and emergency contact forms to include the area code.
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Conclusion
It is important to know that these changes do not affect the price of your calls. A call that was local before the overlay is still a local call. You will not be charged for a long-distance call when dialing a ten-digit local number. The only thing that has changed is how you dial.
