New Jersey's Newest Area Code Debuts In January

by Anthony Bellano

Nearly a year after the first announcement was made, it's almost time for New Jersey residents to get adjusted to a new area code. The new dialing procedure for residents and businesses in the current 609 and 856 area codes will go into effect on Jan. 20, 2018, the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities announced on Tuesday.

However, customers will be able to use both dialing procedures for an ensuing seven-month transition period. The new dialing procedure takes full effect on Aug. 18, 2018.

Beginning Sept. 17, 2018, new telephone lines in the 609 area code may be given numbers using the 640 exchange. Because practically everyone owns a cell phone these days, Neustar is projecting that the 609 area code will run out of possible phone numbers as early as next year.

Neustar is the company that administers phone numbers for the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). It is sending out educational pamphlets in both English and Spanish. There will be no rate changes in relation to the implementation of the new system.

"We know it might be a cause for concern, so we want to make sure there is a smooth transition to the new area code," New Jersey Board of Public Utilities President Richard S. Mroz said. "Thus, the Board and Neustar are reaching out to residents, businesses and government agencies across the area to inform all of the necessary steps to being prepared. These efforts have been ongoing with police, fire, and other emergency first responders to make sure emergency systems are prepared. It's now time for resident and business to make any needed updates to their systems."

Once the new procedure takes effect, customers will have to dial the area code for all calls, even if they are calling a phone number that has the same exchange they have. Anyone dialing either the 609 or 640 area codes from within those areas will not have to dial a "1" before the area code, but they will have to dial a "1" for calls to all other areas codes.

Residents and businesses are also advised to make all appropriate changes for services, automatic dialing equipment or other types of equipment that are programmed to dial only a seven-digit number from the 609 area code.

It is also recommended that they review their personal and business stationery, checks, advertising materials, websites, contact information, and personal or pet ID tags to ensure they have the corrected phone number.
Educational information is being shared with residents and businesses in the 856 area code because of their close proximity to towns that use the 609 exchange. The list of all municipalities that use the 609 exchange is available here.

See related: New Area Code Coming For New Jersey's 609 Region

Image via Shutterstock