There are many signs of an area’s growth – more and taller apartment buildings, new schools and more traffic chief among them. But, every once in a while, more people also means a new area code to include in your phone book.
Tennessee Public Utility Commission approved a new 729 area code for the existing 423 region in eastern Tennessee. The change goes into effect Aug. 5.
If you have a 423 number, don’t worry. Your phone number will not change. The 729 code will be assigned to people requesting brand new lines.
Customers will be required to dial the area code and the seven-digit telephone number to complete local calls. Local calling prices or other rates will not change and it will not affect the ability to dial emergency services’ numbers.
Here’s all you need to know about the change:
When will it go into effect?
Starting Aug. 5, it’s recommended to use 10-digit dialing to make local calls, but a grace period of six months is being given to help customers get accustomed to the change.
From Feb. 5, 2025 onwards however, all local calls made within the 423 area code would need to be dialed using ten digits and seven-digit calls will no longer be completed then.
Who will it affect?
It will impact two areas in eastern Tennessee including Ball Play, Cokercreek, Englewood, Niota, Riceville, Tellico Plains and Vonore.
Will it affect Knoxville?
Koxville and Oak Ridge are centered right in the in the middle of the 423 zone but they actually have their own 865 area code for the metro area.
When the 865 area code was added for Knoxville in 1999, the Tennessee Regulatory Authority deliberately selected those digits, which spell out VOL on the phone keypad, in hopes of making the change more palatable, Knox News reported at the time.
An article from April 1999 announcing the new Knoxville area code quoted a University of Tennessee official describing the VOL code as a compliment to University of Tennessee sports and “an awfully handy thing.”
Are all Tennessee counties seeing rapid growth?
Statewide population has exploded in recent years and for the eighth straight year, Rutherford County has topped the list of the state’s fastest growing counties, according to study this month from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.
The Middle Tennessee County southeast of Nashville saw a 1.8 percent increase last year for 6,419 more people, marking a total population of more than 360,000.
The Tennessean contributed to this story.
Areena Arora, data and investigative reporter for Knox News, can be reached by email at [email protected]. Follow her on X @AreenaArora and on Instagram @areena_news
This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: East Tennessee is getting a new area code. Here’s who will it affect
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