BellSouth Reminder: 865 or VOL Area Code
Takes Effect November 1, 1999

KNOXVILLE, Tenn., Nov. 1 /PRNewswire/ -- Callers to Knoxville, Tenn., and surrounding calling areas can begin using the 8-6-5 (that's V-O-L) area code on November 1, 1999. Between November 1, 1999 and April 23, 2000, callers can use either 4-2-3 or 8-6-5. On April 24, 2000 the change becomes permanent. Other East Tennessee areas including Chattanooga and the Tri-Cities, will retain the 423 area code.

The calling areas affected by the new area code 865 include these counties: Knox, Anderson, Sevier, Blount, Loudon, Roane, Union, Grainger, Jefferson and Sevier. This means Knoxville, Oak Ridge, Maryville, Loudon, Rockwood, Jefferson City, Gatlinburg and Sevierville and surrounding cities will have the new code.

The additional area code is being implemented to accommodate the tremendous growth and competition in telecommunications. Customers are using more telecommunications convenience products and services than ever before, including additional telephone lines, FAX machines, pagers, cellular service and modems for personal computers.

Many area codes are simply running out of blocks of numbers. The North American Numbering Plan, managed by Lockheed Martin, administers area codes and other numbering resources for the FCC.

With internet access, you can see all the prefixes that will change by going to the state BellSouth website: http://www.bellsouth.com/tn or to http://www.bellsouth.com/areacode. Businesses with PBX equipment should be sure their equipment has been reprogrammed to recognize the 8-6-5 area code before April 24, 2000.

SOURCE Bellsouth Tennessee