Communications Diversified, Inc.

Mandatory dialing for the New Mexico 505/575 Area Code Split will begin at 12:01 a.m. on Sunday October 5, 2008

Communications Diversified, Inc. is reminding its customers that the 505/575 area code split relief plan approved by the New Mexico Public Regulation Commission (NMPRC) will enter its final phase on October 5, 2008, when mandatory dialing becomes effective.  

Once mandatory dialing starts, callers must use the correct area code to complete their calls.  A recorded announcement will be played when a caller dials the old 505 area code for a number that moved to the new 575 area code. The recording will direct callers to hang up and redial using the new 575 area code.  Additionally, some callers may hear tones before the recorded announcement which will sound similar to the tones generated by fax machines; these are TTY tones for the hearing impaired which alert their equipment to wait for the recorded announcement.

Who has the new 575 Area Code?

The NMPRC divided the state into two regions.  The southern and eastern portions of the state, including Alamogordo, Carlsbad, Clovis, Deming, Hobbs, Las Cruces, Penasco, Roswell, Raton, Silver City, and Taos, will be served by the new 575 area code.  The northwestern region of the state, including Albuquerque, Espanola, Farmington, Gallup, Las Vegas, Santa Fe, Shiprock, and most of the Navajo Nation, will retain the 505 area code.   A listing of affected prefixes is included with this notice.  

What will not change?

Local calling areas will remain the same; the price of a call, coverage area, or other rates and services will not change.  Your 7-digit telephone number will remain the same. You can still dial just three digits to reach 911 and 411.  If 211, 311, 511, 611, 711 and 811 are currently available in your community you can still dial them with just three digits.

How will the new area code impact you?

It is recommended that customers complete the following steps before October 5, 2008 to ensure successful call completion.

• Notify individuals and businesses who call you of the change if you live in the area of the state that now has the new 575 area code.
• Change your area code to the new 575 area code if it appears on items like checks and stationery.
• If necessary, reprogram equipment like automatic-dialers, life safety systems, security systems and gates, fax machines, computer modems or voicemail and similar services.
• If you are in the new 575 area code, be sure everyone in your household knows your new area code, paying particular attention to educating children, the disabled and the elderly.
• Calling features such as Speed Dialing and Call Forwarding may need to be updated with the new 575 area code.
• Owners of coin-operated telephones must contact their equipment vendor for any specific equipment requirements and changes.

What should I do if my business is located in the new 575 area code?

• Change your area code to the new 575 area code on items such as stationery, business cards, signs and advertisements.
• Ask your employees to always include your area code whenever they give out the phone number for your business.
• Notify all of your customers that your area code has changed.
• To ensure you don’t miss important calls, make your customers aware that they may need to make changes to their equipment to recognize the new 575 area code.
• Encourage your customers to request assistance if they have trouble calling you.

What should I do if I am having trouble receiving calls from out-of-state or internationally?

• Calls from out-of-state originate with the callers out-of-state telephone service provider or international carrier.  If an out-of-state caller can't reach you with the new 575 area code, its likely there is a problem with their customer equipment, local service provider, or long-distance / international carrier. These problems must be reported by the out-of-state / international caller to their local service provider for resolution.
• If you have family or friends deployed in the military outside of the United States, make sure they know and use your new 575 area code.

Questions?

Additional information regarding the 505/575 Area Code Split can be obtained by calling our Customer Service Department at (505) 998-9292

You may also visit the New Mexico Public Regulation Commission on the Web at www.nm575.info or call them at 1 888-4ASK-PRC; or write to them at 1120 Paseo De Peralta, R.O. Box 1269, Santa Fe, NM 87501

For assistance in Native American languages, please call 1 888-4ASK-PRC.