Move over 864, a new area code is coming to the Upstate: What to know

Nina Tran, Greenville News
·3 min read

Heads up, Upstate residents ― there's a new area code coming to a phone number near you.

But don't get your phone cord into a knot ― the new code will not replace the current 864. The new area code is simply an overlay to supplement it.

In January, a six-month permissive dialing period began to give customers enough time to adapt to the dialing changes in which local calls could be made with either seven or 10 digits. All local calls would continue as local even if 10 digits were dialed. During that time, the South Carolina Public Service Commission reminded residents of the arrival of the new area code, set to begin mid 2024.

What is the new area code, and when will customers need to start using it? Here's what to know.

A teenager (not pictured) uses her mobile phone. Tech executives appeared at a 2024 Senate hearing to address accusations that their companies are endangering children's lives by not adequately policing predators who seek to harm young social media users.
A teenager (not pictured) uses her mobile phone. Tech executives appeared at a 2024 Senate hearing to address accusations that their companies are endangering children's lives by not adequately policing predators who seek to harm young social media users.

What is an area code overlay?

An overlay is described by S.C.'s Public Service Commission as the addition of another area code to the same geographic region served by an existing area code.

What is the new SC area code?

The new area code is 821.

Do I need to change my existing area code?

Customers will not be required to change their existing area code, but they will be required to dial the new area code in order to complete local calls.

When will the new area code roll out?

The new area will be implemented on July 19. During this time, all calls made within the S.C. 864 area code must be placed using 10 digits (for example, area code + the seven digit phone number). From this date forward, calls using only seven digits will not be completed. New telephone lines or services may be assigned numbers using the new 821 area code beginning August 19.

What to know about the new area code implementation

Some key facts as outlined by the S.C. Public Service Commission:

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

∎ If you seek new phone service on and after August 19, you may be assigned a phone number with the 821 area code.

∎ You will need to dial the area code + telephone number for all local calls, including calls within the same area code.

∎ 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 and 988. You can also dial three digits to reach 211, 311, 511, and 811 where available.

∎ Please remember to identify your telephone number as a 10-digit number and include the area code when giving the number to friends, family, business associates, and customers, etc.

∎ All local calls must be programmed using 10 digits and add "1" for all long-distance calls.

An attendee uses her phone during the 56th annual Silver Elephant Gala, where former president Donald Trump is the keynote speaker, at the South Carolina State Fairgrounds, in Columbia, S.C., on Saturday, Aug. 5, 2023.
An attendee uses her phone during the 56th annual Silver Elephant Gala, where former president Donald Trump is the keynote speaker, at the South Carolina State Fairgrounds, in Columbia, S.C., on Saturday, Aug. 5, 2023.

What about my other devices?

Customers must make sure their devices and other types of equipment are reprogrammable to dial 10 digits if they are programmed to dial just seven. This is to ensure the new 821 area code is recognized as a valid area code. This applies to automatic dialing equipment, applications, and software, as well as life-safety systems, fax machines, internet dial-up numbers, 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 also be checked to make sure the area code is included in your phone number.

Medical alert devices, and alarm and security systems must be programmed to use 10-digit dialing. These forms of safety and security equipment already use 10-digit dialing by default. It is still important to check that they do not use seven digits, especially older equipment. To accommodate the upcoming change, contact your medical alert or security provider. Please make sure that any necessary reprogramming of alarm and home security equipment is done by July 19.

Nina Tran covers trending topics for The Greenville News. Reach her via email at ntran@gannett.com

This article originally appeared on Greenville News: New area code coming to Upstate, SC in July 2024