Greetings, for all who have phone numbers saved for contact with people or
places in certain areas of Virginia.

From a local Halifax Co Va. newspaper:

                                                  804 is now 434

On January 15, 2002, mandatory dialing of the 434 area code begins for South
Boston, Halifax County and much of Central and Southside Virginia including
Danville, Lynchburg and Charlottesville. On that date, callers must use the
correct area code to complete their calls.

Callers who do not use the new area code will receive a recorded message
reminding them that the area code has changed. The new area code does not
affect the cost of telephone calls and local calls will remain local calls
regardless of the area code dialed.

Southside Virginia was branded 804 when area codes were first introduced but
as available numbers began running out, the State Corporation Commission was
forced to divide code regions to relieve the exhaust of available telephone
numbers.

The relief plan adopted by the SCC draws a line that splits the existing 804
area code region in half geographically. The split, in terms of existing
telephone customers, places one-third of them in the western section and the
other two-thirds in the eastern section (see map).

Richmond, its surrounding metropolitan area including Petersburg and the
Northern Neck, will retain the existing 804 area code. When this area
subsequently exhausts, which is estimated to be in about six years, a new
area code will be assigned to serve the same geographic region.
An overlay code requires all calls within the area to dial 10 digits (area
code, plus the number). The SCC expects this to provide relief for the next
20 years.
Southside Virginia residents, including South Boston and Halifax County, will
experience a one-time inconvenience of a change in their area code.
Seven-digit dialing for local calls has been preserved. This is also expected
to be a 20-year solution.
So much for land line solutions.
If you own a wireless phone (and who doesn't?), it must be reprogrammed.
According to the SCC, wireless telephone customers in the new 434 region will
be able to retain their 804 number for up to two years after the split
occurred on June 1, 2001.

But cell phone service providers say subscribers may not be able to receive
all of their calls if the 434 area code is not programed into the phone.
Even worse, initiating a wireless call with an incorrect area code could cost
you unless you able to convince the service provider that it was an honest
mistake. Either way, wireless service providers say you need to dial the
correct area code when making any phone call in order to assure the
connection and the lowest user fee.
Reprogramming a cell phone usually takes less than two minutes, according to
an Alltel representative.

Larry


                                 SEARCHING HALIFAX CO. VA FOR:
         CHANDLER, CHAPPELL, BALLOU, BYRD, IRBY, BROWN, LACY,
                               McCRAW + YOUNGER

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