SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Central Illinois residents will be seeing a new area code on local calls in the near future.
The Illinois Commerce Commission says that starting on February 24th, new phone numbers in the 309 area code could be assigned an 861 area code. The ICC says it’s due to new phone numbers in west-central Illinois being in high demand.
The new area code will co-exist with the existing 309 area code. And those with an existing 309 number will not need to change their number.
The ICC also says customers will still need to dial 10 digits for local calls, and 1+10 digits for long distance calls.
Three digits will only be needed to call 911 or 988, as well as service numbers such as 211 or 411, if available in their communities.
