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Service Updates

Apr 01
0

New Dialing Procedure

By | Service Updates

Introduction of the new 572 area code

All customers served by the 405 area code should prepare for the start of 10-digit dialing and the introduction of the new 572 area code. The 572 area code will be added as an overlay to the 405 region. An overlay is the addition of another area code (572) to the same geographic region served by an existing area code (405).

The OCC ordered an area code overlay for the 405 Area Code on January 8, 2020.  An overlay does not require customers to change their existing area code but does require customers to dial the area code to complete local calls.

Beginning April 24, 2021, all local calls made within the Oklahoma 405 area code must be placed using 10 digits (area code + the 7-digit telephone number).   

Beginning May 24, 2021, new telephone lines or services may be assigned numbers using the new 572 area code. 

The key facts for consumers to know about the upcoming 405/572 area code overlay are:

  • Your current telephone number, including current area code, will not change.
  • If you seek new phone service on and after May 24, 2021, you may be assigned a phone number with the 572 area code. 
  • You will need to dial area code + telephone number for all local calls, including calls within the same area code.
  • You will continue to dial 1 + area code + telephone number for all long distance calls. 
  • What is a local call now will remain a local call.
  • The price of a call, coverage area, or other rates and services will not change due to the overlay.
  • You can still dial just three digits to reach 911.  You can also dial three digits to reach 211 and 811, as well as 311 and 511, where available. 

Please remember to identify your telephone number as a 10-digit number and include the area code when giving the number to friends, family, business associates and customers, etc.

Customers should ensure all services, automatic dialing equipment, applications, software, or other types of equipment are reprogrammed to dial 10 digits if they are programmed to dial just 7 digits, and recognize the new 572 area code as a valid area code.  Examples include life-safety systems, fax machines, Internet dial-up numbers, alarm and security systems, gates, ankle monitors, speed dialers, mobile phone contact lists, call forwarding settings, voicemail services, and similar functions.  Be sure to check your business stationery, advertising materials, personal checks, and your personal or pet ID tags to ensure the area code is included in your telephone number.

Important safety and security equipment, such as medical alert devices, and alarm and security systems must be programmed to use 10-digit dialing.  Many systems operate on 10-digit dialing by default but some older equipment may still use 7 digits.  Please contact your medical alert or security provider if you are not sure whether your equipment needs to be reprogrammed to accommodate the upcoming change to 10-digit local dialing.  Any needed reprogramming of alarm and home security equipment must be completed by April 24, 2021. 

Remember that all local calls must be programmed using 10-digits and add ‘1’ for all long distance calls. 

For additional information, please visit the OCC website at http://oklahoma.gov/occ/divisions/public-utility/telephone/405exhaust.html  or contact your local telephone service provider. 

Dec 14
0

PTC Supports the Open Internet

By | Service Updates

If you’ve paid attention to the news or social media over the past few months, you’ve no doubt heard about the Federal Communications Commission’s December 14th vote on Net Neutrality.  As we’ve seen an uptick in our customer’s curiosity over where PTC stands on this issue, we thought it important to make our plans known.

We will continue to operate as we did before Title II Internet regulations took effect two years ago, which is to say we do not practice any discrimination of any websites, streaming services or voice applications that may compete with any services we provide. We also do not throttle or block consumer access to any lawful Internet content that is consistent with our acceptable use policy.  We don’t speed up or slow down access to individual websites in exchange for compensation and we don’t share your personal Internet usage data with any third parties.

We will continue to invest in equipment and infrastructure in our communities in an effort to provide the best Internet experience possible for our customers.  We understand you may have been alarmed by some of the articles floating around about this topic and we want to assure you that we are not planning on changing any of our policies or plans on this topic.