10 Digit Dialing

In keeping with the current telecommunications standardization of 10 digit dialing, SouthEast Telephone customers enrolled in All State and All American plans are being asked to use 1+ the area code for all calls made outside their local calling areas. The new dialing pattern will begin taking effect December 8, 2008.

“10 digit dialing is becoming more prevalent throughout the industry,” said SouthEast Telephone marketing director Bambi Phillips. “The need to dial 10 digits when calling long distance numbers is primarily due to local number portability, area code changes and cell carriers. This neutral dialing pattern promotes local competition and fairness in the industry by allowing customers of any phone company to dial calls the same way. We hope to simplify things for our customers dialing regional or statewide calls and establish this process throughout our service areas.”

1+ dialing simply means that making calls outside the local area should be dialed using all 10 digits, 1+ the area code + the number. A list of local calling areas is found in the telephone directory for each community. The new dialing pattern will not change the monthly service costs.

“There is no additional cost by dialing 1+ the area code if \the customer participates in one of our extended area service plans such as All State and All American,” said SouthEast Telephone vice president of network operations Wes Maynard. “The only change is in the number of digits being dialed in a regional area.”

After December 8, 2008, should customers receive an ‘incomplete call’ or ‘could not be completed at this time’ message, it simply means 1 + the area code + the local number is required to complete the call.

To prepare for 10 digit dialing beginning on December 1, SouthEast Telephone customers should remember to reprogram their fax machines, speed-dialing lists, call forwarding services, and any other equipment that automatically dials telephone numbers.

“Customers, including business customers, should also check with their security companies and the suppliers of their business phone systems,” said SouthEast Telephone commercial account specialist Jerry Castle, “ to make sure their equipment is properly programmed to handle the new dialing patterns.”

Emergency services such as 911 do not change; customers do not have to dial the area code to reach a 911 operator for emergency assistance.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is 10 Digit Dialing?
Answer: 10-Digit Dialing requires 1+ area code and number to call a long distance number.

2. Who does the 10-Digit Dialing Change affect?
Answer: The 10-Digit Dialing Change affects only the customers who have All State and All American plans with SouthEast Telephone. These customers previously did not need to dial the 1 + area code when dialing a regional long distance call.

3. If I have to make the change and dial 1+area code for long distance calls, is there an extra charge?
Answer: Your bill will not change. If you have the All State plan, you can make long distance calls within Kentucky without charge. If you have SouthEast’s All American plan, you can make long distance calls throughout the continental United States without charge.

4. Do I have to dial 1+area code when dialing a local call?
Answer: No. Local calls are still to be made by just dialing the number.

5. What is a Local Calling Area?
Answer: The number a customer can call without dialing the 1+area code.

6. Where do I find my Local Calling Area?
Answer: Local calling areas and long distance calling areas can be found in the Customer Guide section in the front of your phone directory.

7. Do I need to dial 1+ the area code for 911 service?
Answer: NO. For an emergency, just dial 911.

8. What else could possibly be affected by this 10-Digit Calling change?
Answer: All pre-programmed services such as fax machines, security devices, speed dial, and certain phone systems.