The North Carolina Utilities Commission has provided an overlay area code for the 336 code coverage area, much like the 980 overlay code for 704.
The area includes the cities of Winston-Salem, Greensboro, High Point, North Wilkesboro and Asheboro. Neustar, which is the North American Numbering Plan Administrator, forecasted that without the addition, numbering for new accounts in the 336 area will be exhausted by the third quarter of 2016.
The telecommunications industry unanimously recommended the overlay because it is the most efficient, most effective, and least disruptive of the four alternatives presented. The commission has previously approved similar overlay relief in the Charlotte and Raleigh areas.
Because an overlay means that the 336 dialing area will have two different area codes, the Federal Communications Commission requires use of 10-digit dialing (area code + 7 digits) for all local calls into, out of, and within the area. However, there will be no change in the cost to consumers for local calls. Further, existing customers will be able to keep their 336 telephone numbers without change. Neustar has informed the commission that the new overlay area code will be 743.
Customers will receive more detailed information, including a time schedule for implementation of 10-digit dialing, in future notices from their local telecommunications provider.