A New Area Code Coming To East Tennessee

A new area code is coming to East Tennessee. According to the Public Utility Commission, the 423-area code is expected to run out of new numbers in the third quarter of 2025. the new area code of 729 will be what is called an “overlay” area code. An “overlay” area code is the addition of another area code to the same geographic region as an existing code (423). An overlay does not require customers to change their existing are code but what it will require is a new dialing procedure to complete calls. The new 729 area code will serve the same geographic region currently served by the existing 423 area code, it’s just as the region continues to grow, new customers will be assigned the new area code. The new 729 area code numbers will start being assigned to new customers beginning on March 5, 2025.

The only change for current customers in the 423 area code, is starting on August 5 of this year, you will need to dial the full 10 digit number when calling in the 423 area code. That includes when dialing a local number here in Newport. If you forget and just dial seven digits, your call will still go through. But starting next year on February 5, you will get the message that you call cannot be completed as dialed and you will have to hang up and call again using the full 10 digit number. Something else you’ll have to change will be speed dials or saved numbers that just have seven digits. Those will have to be changed to include the area code as well.

The Public Utility Commission says the new 729 area code will reportedly ensure residents and businesses have access to a ‘sufficient supply’ of telephone numbers to serve the East Tennessee area which is growing at a rapid pace.