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New area code, 10-digit dialing coming to East Tennessee

Photo illustration by Ricky Young / As utilities prepare to add the 729 area code to the 423 region, residents will have to transition to 10-digit dialing for local calls.
Photo illustration by Ricky Young / As utilities prepare to add the 729 area code to the 423 region, residents will have to transition to 10-digit dialing for local calls. Photo illustration by Ricky Young / As utilities prepare to add the 729 area code to the 423 region, residents will have to transition to 10-digit dialing for local calls.

By Ellen Gerst 2 min read

Some East Tennessee residents will soon have to get used to dialing the area code to make local calls.

As a new 729 area code is added to the current 423 region, callers will have to dial 10 digits starting next year, according to a news release from the Tennessee Public Utility Commission.

The 423 region includes the Chattanooga area and southeastern Tennessee, as well as parts of northeastern Tennessee to the east and west of Knoxville including Bristol, Kingsport and Johnson City. The new 729 code will overlay the same area and will be Tennessee’s eighth area code.

(READ MORE: Chattanooga takes first step to ease rules, accommodate denser housing)

Starting Aug. 5, callers can either dial seven or 10 digits — including area code — for local calls.

After Feb. 5, 2025, all local calls within the 423 area will have to be dialed with 10 digits, according to the commission. Any calls made with just seven digits won’t be completed, and callers will be routed to a message about the change.

New 729 numbers are set to be issued starting in March, according to the release.

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Current 423 numbers will not change, and the price of local calls won’t increase because of the new dialing pattern, according to the commission.

Calls to three-digit lines, like 911, 988 and 311, won’t be affected.

(READ MORE: ‘Enough is enough’: Ooltewah area sees most residential growth in Hamilton County in past decade)

To prepare for the change, the commission recommends checking that any automatic dialing services — like medical monitoring systems, speed dialers and call forwarding – include the area code on any listed numbers.

Contact Ellen Gerst at egerst@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6319.