DATE: Tuesday, September 16, 1997           TAG: 9709160243

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B3   EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA 

SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS 

DATELINE: RALEIGH                           LENGTH:   37 lines

BELLSOUTH SAYS 336, 252 AND 828 WILL BE ADDED TO N.C. AREA CODES

BellSouth announced to state regulators Monday the new area codes it has chosen for three new regions in North Carolina.

The new area codes are 336 for the Triad area, 252 for areas east of Raleigh, and 828 for the mountains. These are in addition to the 704, 919 and 910 area codes that already exist.

The North Carolina Utilities Commission ruled last month to accept the plan for new area codes because the current area codes were being used up by the growing number of telephones, fax machines and cellular phones.

For many North Carolina residents - including those in Greensboro and Winston-Salem - the area code change is the second time in four years.

The 336 code will be the first to go into effect, starting Dec. 15. Callers will be able to continue using 910 or use 336 until June 15, 1998.

The 252 code can be used starting March 22, 1998, and can be used in conjunction with 919 until Sept. 21, 1998.

The 828 code will tentatively go into effect June 1, 1998, and finally split from 704 on Oct. 5, 1998.

The period during which either area code can be used will help customers get used to the new codes, BellSouth spokesman Clifton Metcalf said.

``Customers will need to change their letterheads, business cards and advertising,'' he said. ``They will need to reprogram fax machines, speed dialers and modems. If they have a cellular phone, they will need to have it reprogrammed by their provider.''

The original area code for North Carolina was 704, established in 1947.

The state added 919 for the eastern half in 1954. Those area codes were sufficient until 1994, when 910 was added to serve the Piedmont area around Winston-Salem and Greensboro. KEYWORDS: TELEPHONE AREA CODES

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