A new area code is coming to Carroll County and the rest of the region that currently uses the 870 area code, according to the Arkansas Public Service Commission. While that will require a bit of a change in making calls, existing 870 area code customers will keep that area code.

In a news release announcing the change, the commission says that the supply of telephone numbers for the 870 area code will run out during the first quarter of 2025. To ensure that there will be enough available phone numbers, the commission has approved 327 as a new area code for the region.

The addition of the new area code will require 10-digit dialing for all local calls. A six-month permissive dialing period will begin July 21, 2023. During this period, local calls can be made with either 7 or 10 digits, and all calls that are local will continue to be local even though you dial 10 digits. Beginning Jan. 19, 2024, you must dial the area code plus the telephone number on all calls, including calls within the same area code. On Feb. 20, 2024, new telephone lines or services may be assigned numbers with the new 327 area code. The 501 area code region has already transitioned to 10-digit dialing.

The 870 area code covers the northern, eastern and southern portions of Arkansas. The new 327 area code will serve the same area currently served by the existing 870 area code. The North American Numbering Plan Administrator (NANPA), who serves as the federal designee, assigned 327 as the number for the overlay plan approved by the Arkansas Public Service Commission.