If you haven’t started getting into the habit of dialing 607 when making a local call, you may want to start today.

Kathy Whyte/ WNBF News
Kathy Whyte/ WNBF News
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The change to local dialing requiring the area code along with the regular seven-digit number to make a local call goes into effect Sunday, October 24.  After that, callers may get the message that their call cannot be completed as dialed.

The requirement in the 607 and four other area codes in New York State as well as other areas of the country, is coming from the establishment of the three-digit: 988 hotline number for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.  The Federal Communications Commission says it had to free up systems to allow for the easy to remember, three-digit crisis number.

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People should double check things like security systems as well as phone numbers in their contact lists to make sure they include the area code.  Some systems may not automatically update on October 24 and would have to be reprogrammed.

Dialing a number outside the local area code will still require also dialing 1 before the area code.  You do not have to dial 1 before dialing 607 to make a local call.

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