The Iowa Utilities Board is changing the planned start up for the new 5-6-3 area code that’s being split off the 3-1-9 area code in eastern Iowa. Board spokesman Chuck Seele says phone companies asked for more time to implement the new area code, and the board is responding.
The date to beginuse of 5-6-3 has been moved to March 25 of 2001 and the mandatory use datehas been moved to December 2 of 2001. The permissive use had been set for March 4th and madatory use September 9th. Seele says the board also made some adjustments in the dividing line for the new area code.
The Oran exchange is being move back to 3-1-9, while the Onslow, Mechanicsville and Stanwood exchanges were moved into 5-6-3. Seele outlines how the change will impact some of the major cities. Seele says these are the final changes before the new area code goes into effect. This was an historic year forIowa with its first two new area codes. The other area code change came when part of the 5-1-5 area code in the middle of the state was split into the new 6-4-1 area code.