Eastern SC going to 10-digit dialing next year

CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) - Residents in eastern South Carolina will start using 10-digit dialing for all calls beginning next year.

The Post and Courier of Charleston reported (https://bit.ly/1boPWcT) residents in the Pee Dee and Lowcountry that use the 843 area code will begin dialing at least 10 digits to make a call beginning Sept. 19, 2015.

Officials are phasing in a new area code, 854, in the area.

It’s South Carolina’s first region where there will be two area codes for the same geographical area.

No one will have to change phone numbers, but because there will be two area codes in the same region, everyone will have to dial an area code, even when making a local call.

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Information from: The Post and Courier, https://www.postandcourier.com