Starting October 7, anyone placing a local call within Detroit’s “313” area code will need to dial all 10 digits—the area code plus the seven digit telephone number.

It’s the final phase of the implementation of the new “679” area code overlay for the city. Ryan McAnany is with the Michigan Public Service Commission. He spoke with WDET’s Bre’Anna about what residents can expect.

 The following interview has been edited for clarity and length.

Ryan McAnany: The “313”, area code is not being split. There’s just a new area code that’s being overlaid on top of it. And the reason for that “679” area code is that the “313” numbers are just running out now. After many, many decades, with the numbering demand of new technology, it’s just inevitable that numbers run out. And it’s projected that the “313” area code will be running out of numbers in 2028.

Bre’Anna Tinsley: So at what point can we expect people who are maybe getting new phone lines to be assigned a “679” number instead of “313”?

RA:  It’s very fluid, and that assignment is all dependent upon the numbering demand. Technically, it’ll be anytime after November 7 of this year that a new number could be assigned this “679” area code. However, those numbers will not be assigned that new area code until all of the “313” numbers have been used. Right now, projection is that the first quarter of 2028 is when the “313” numbers will run out. However, that can fluctuate quarter by quarter depending on the numbering demand.

BT: For me personally, for a while, I believe I’ve been using I have a “313” number, but I tend to find that when I’m dialing out, I have to use the entire the whole 10 digits in order to dial that. So, it’s interesting to me that there’s a significant number of people out there who probably aren’t doing that, where this kind of notification would be necessary?

RA: Yeah, it depends on the type of service that they’re using. If they’re using landline service, the traditional copper line landline, more than likely they won’t have to be dialing the 10-digit number. If you’re a wireless customer, that’s where you’re probably already using the “313” area code with a seven-digit number. So, it really depends on the type of telephone service that you have, whether it’s landline or wireless.

BT: Are there any other changes that residents should be aware of and what’s staying the same?

RA: The biggest point is everyone who has a “313” number will not be losing their number. “313” is not going away. It’ll still be there. Everyone who has that number will keep that number. The second point is, is making local calls. There won’t be a change in the rates or the cost. It’s that’ll remain the same. The biggest change is just that dialing pattern. Something else to keep in mind is that if you are a customer living in this area, you will want to make sure that you’re updating anything that’s associated with your telephone number that could be impacted by this dialing pattern change. So if you have a security system, a fire alarm system, medical equipment, things of that nature, you will want to make sure it’s been updated to include the area code and not just the seven digit number with it. And then also other things such as stationary, even your pet tags, making sure that those are updated now to include that “313” area code with it.