It will also launch an advertising campaign and print updates in telephones books. Businesses will need to change their stationery and letterhead while residential customers will need to take care of such matters as changing the telephone number on their checks and reprogramming speed-dial buttons on their phones.īell has begun contacting businesses and will inform residential customers later this month with bill inserts. "There's no question that there's going to be some customer irritation and confusion, but we spent more than two years planning and considering all of the options and this is the best plan for the highest number of customers," Harral said.īell officials said it is announcing the decision now to give customers time to make adjustments. Montgomery County towns remaining in 215 include Harleysville, Lansdale, Green Lane and Pennsburg.īell officials concede that the change could cause temporary confusion, not only for those living in the new 610 area but also for those trying to reach people and businesses there.
The northeastern tip of Bucks County will shift to 610, changing the area code for Springtown, Riegelsville and Ferndale. In Bucks County, Quakertown, Perkasie, Dublin and Souderton - which straddles the Bucks/Montgomery line - will keep the 215 area code. The new 215 will include Philadelphia, most of Bucks County and what is roughly the eastern half of Montgomery County. In Monroe and Carbon counties, Lehighton, Bowmanstown, Palmerton, Kunkletown and Kresgeville will move over to the new 610 area code, which will also swallow up Chester, Delaware and small parts of eastern Lancaster County. Bell officials couldn't pinpoint whether all or just parts of the Lower Milford and Hereford areas will remain 215. In Berks County, only the Hereford area stays at 215. All of Lehigh County - except for the Lower Milford area in the county's southernmost tip -goes to 610.