Telephone subscribers in northern Georgia now have less than three months to prepare for the introduction of the new 762 area code.

The new area code will be an overlay on top of the existing 706 area code. It covers most of northern Georgia north of Atlanta, including the cities of Athens, Augusta, Columbus, Cornelia, Dalton, LaGrange, Rome and Toccoa.

With the change, everyone in the area code will have to dial the area code before every local telephone number, a procedure known as 10-digit dialing. Wireless phones with a 706 area code will also have to use 10-digit dialing, if they do not already do so. This dialing procedure has been used in the Atlanta metro area since 1998.

Hopefully you’ve been dialing all 10 digits since permissive dialing went into effect September 1, 2005. If you haven’t, now’s the time to start, so that you’re already accustomed to the change when the dialing becomes mandatory on April 3. Telephone companies will begin issuing numbers with the new 762 area code on May 16.

In addition, you should think about your speed dial numbers in your wireless phone, your fax machine, security system, or PBX. These may also need to be reprogrammed before the deadline.

Previously: Northern Georgia gets 762 area code, 10 digit dialing