New Area Code Means Suffolk County Residents Must Dial 10-Digit Numbers

MELVILLE, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- Some Long Island residents will soon have to dial an area code when making local calls.

As CBS2's Meg Baker reported Tuesday, Suffolk County is getting an additional area code – 934 – to handle a rising demand for new phone numbers. Some say the extra numbers will take some getting used to.

Dialing just seven digits to make a local call has been a way of life for Suffolk County residents. But starting next month, they will have to add in their area code.

"I think it's absolutely ridiculous," said Tony Mennona of Miller Place. "I mean, we live in the county. Why should we have to dial the area code for the county that we already live in?"

The answer is that the current 631 exchange will soon run out of numbers, so the New York State Public Service Commission is adding a new 934 exchange for new county numbers. For Lauren Zimmer, it means revising many of the local contacts in her cellphone.

"It sounds like a very time-intensive situation, where probably two hours of my life that I'll never get back will be dedicated towards reprogramming everything," said Lauren Zimmer of Rocky Point.

Suffolk County residents will also have to add the area code to any preprogrammed numbers that are automatically dialed, including numbers used with home security alarms.

"I urge you to call your local alarm company and just make sure that the panel is programmed for 10-digit calling, because if the alarm signal is tripped from your home and you do not have it, they're not going to get the call," said Duane Pescale of All Island Security.

Business groups such as the Suffolk-based Long Island Association successfully lobbied to limit who would get the new 934 exchange.

"Only new numbers will have the new area code. Thus, existing businesses will not have to change any of their branding, such as their website, their stationery, their business cards – and that, of course, will be less costly to them," said Matthew Cohen of the Long Island Association.

After June 18, Suffolk County calls without the area code will not go through.

Vinny Pirro of Smithtown is resigned to the change.

"Like everything else, sooner or later, we'll get used to it," Pirro said.

As for the new 934 exchange, the Public Service Commission will start assigning new numbers beginning in July.