New York News

#518 Area Code: 10-Digit Dialing Begins Saturday

WAMC Northeast Public Radio | By Dave Lucas

Published August 19, 2017 at 6:00 AM EDT

The state Public Service Commission approved the 838 area code last September to ensure there will continue to be enough telephone numbers to meet demand in eastern New York.

If you haven't done so already, it's time to reprogram your cell phone and/or speed dialer to include the 518 area code.

Mandatory 10-digit dialing takes effect Saturday throughout the 518 area code, New York state's largest, covering more than a dozen counties from the eastern Mohawk Valley to the Vermont border- and from the Canadian border to south of Albany.

Remember: You don't need to dial "1" before the number!

518 will be joined in September by 838. The two will cover the same geographic footprint.

Tags

Dave Lucas

Dave Lucas is WAMC’s Capital Region Bureau Chief. Born and raised in Albany, he’s been involved in nearly every aspect of local radio since 1981. Before joining WAMC, Dave was a reporter and anchor at WGY in Schenectady. Prior to that he hosted talk shows on WYJB and WROW, including the 1999 series of overnight radio broadcasts tracking the JonBenet Ramsey murder case with a cast of callers and characters from all over the world via the internet. In 2012, Dave received a Communicator Award of Distinction for his WAMC news story "Fail: The NYS Flood Panel," which explores whether the damage from Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee could have been prevented or at least curbed. Dave began his radio career as a “morning personality” at WABY in Albany.

See stories by Dave Lucas