The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission reminded residents and businesses in eastern and southeastern Pennsylvania of the upcoming activation of a new 835 area code, which serves the same geographic region as the existing 610 and 484 area codes.

The new 835 area code is being placed into service because the remaining supply of numbers in the current 610/484 area codes is nearly exhausted. The 610/484 calling area serves residents and businesses in all or portions of Berks, Bucks, Carbon, Chester, Delaware, Lancaster, Lebanon, Lehigh, Monroe, Montgomery, Northampton, and Schuylkill counties.

Current customers will keep their existing 610/484 phone numbers, but starting Sept. 2, residents or businesses seeking new telephone lines may be assigned numbers in the 835 area code.

Because the region is served by two overlay area codes, callers are already required to use 10-digit dialing when making calls - something they have been doing for more than 20 years, since the 484 area code was introduced in 1999.

Because 10-digit dialing is already well established in this region, the eventual addition of the new 835 area code covering the same geographic area will not require any changes to the way area residents and businesses dial telephone calls - aside from using the new area code, when necessary

Tips to prepare for the eventual start of the new 835 area code include:

• Checking devices to verify that area codes are included with all stored numbers.

• Continuing to program/save/store phone numbers to all devices using the full 10-digit telephone number.

• Verifying that all services and equipment - such as automatic dialers, life-safety & medical alert systems, alarm/security systems and security gates, call-forwarding settings, and voicemail services - recognize the new area code as a valid phone number.

• For those interested in checking their devices to confirm that they will work with the new 835 area code, a test number is now available: 835-990-TEST (8378). A recorded announcement will indicate the test call has been successfully completed.