Starting this Saturday, April 23, 2016, all local calls made within the North Carolina 336 area code must use the 10 digit telephone number (area code plus the 7-digit local telephone number), whether home phone cell phone. To ensure a continuing supply of telephone numbers, the North Carolina Utilities Commission ordered a 743 Area Code Overlay for the area with the 336 area code. This means that two area codes, 743 and 336, will now be used in our area.  Starting April 23, 2016, all local calls must be placed using 10‑digit telephone numbers (336 or 743 plus the 7-digit local telephone number). Beginning May 23, 2016, customers in the 336 area code region requesting new service, adding an additional line, or moving their service, may be assigned a number with the new 743 area code. The most important facts that consumers and businesses need to know about the upcoming 743 area code overlay are:  Your telephone number, including current area code, will not change; You will need to dial 10 digits (area code + 7-digit local telephone number) for all local calls; For billing purposes, what is now a local call will remain a local call; You will continue to dial 1+ area code + 7-digit local telephone number for all long distance calls; The price of a call, coverage area, or other rates and services will not change due to the overlay; and You can still dial just three digits to reach 911.