Starting Sunday, you'll have to dial an area code for all local calls made in Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky.
The mandatory 10-digit dialing was first announced by the Federal Communications Commission in February.
Once the changes start, callers will be required to dial the area code plus the seven-digit number for calls within Cincinnati's 513 area code and Northern Kentucky's 859 area code. Local phone numbers, including area codes, will not change.
After Oct. 24, local calls dialed with only seven digits may not connect, and a recording will inform you that the call cannot be completed as dialed. To complete the call, hang up and dial again using the area code and seven-digit number.
This move was necessary as the FCC adopted a new three-digit number, 988, in July to reach the National Suicide Prevention and Mental Health Crisis Lifeline nationwide.
For long-distance calls, callers must continue to dial the number 1, plus the area code and phone number.
All services, automatic dialing equipment and other types of equipment that are programmed to complete calls to seven-digit local numbers will need to be reprogrammed.
This could affect security systems, medical monitoring devices, fax machines and contact lists, call forwarding settings, voicemail services and any other similar functions for mobile phones and wireless devices.
The FCC previously said the price of a call, coverage area and other rates and services will not change.
Not all numbers are requiring area codes, though: Callers can still dial just three digits to reach 711 relay services or 911 emergency services.
Any 211, 311, 411, 511, 611 or 811 services can also still be reached by dialing their three-digit codes.
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