Area Code 786 will overlay the Florida Keys (Monroe County), currently served by area code 305. After area code 305 has been fully assigned, area code 786, currently serving Miami-Dade County, will begin to be assigned to new numbers in the Florida Keys. The 786 area code will only be assigned to new phone numbers, so existing numbers in the Florida Keys won't change. But the way you dial your local and extended area service (EAS) calls will.

Because 786 will overlay the 305 area code in the Florida Keys, all local calls (including extended area service/EAS calls) will have to be dialed using ten digits (the seven-digit number plus the appropriate area code, 305 or 786).

A transition period, starting September 1, 2001, will allow you to dial either seven or ten digits to make your local and extended area service calls. There is no need to dial a “1” or “0” when making these calls. After the 305 area code has been fully assigned, ten-digit dialing will be required to complete all local and extended area service calls. The date when ten-digit dialing will be required has not yet been established and depends on the outcome of various number of conservation measures. At this time, extended calling services (ECS) calls will continue to be dialed on a 1 + ten digit-basis.

Since your existing telephone number remains the same, there is no need to change checks, stationery, other printed materials or signs as long as they contain your area code. Also, local calling areas and rates will not change. Special services that use three-digit numbers (911 and 411) as well as 1 + ten-digit long distance will remain unchanged. 

• Start dialing ten digits for all your local and extended area service calls, so that when ten-digit dialing becomes mandatory, it'll be second nature.
  
  
• Reprogram all stored local telephone numbers to include the area code for services like Call Forwarding, Speed Calling, Call Selector, and Call Block.
  
  
• Reprogram equipment like fax machines, modems, Internet connections, PBX systems (consult your PBX vendor), wireless phones or any equipment with automatic dialing features.
  
  
• Customers who have security systems need to contact their vendor to determine reprogramming needs for ten-digit dialing.

Call 1-800-964-7941 with any questions so you'll be ready for the new area code. If you are hearing- or speech-impaired and use a TTY, please call 305 780-2274 (within Dade and Monroe County), 780-2274 (within the rest of Florida†) or 1-800-251-5325 (outside Florida).

^{†Central Florida Region customers dial 407-780-2274
  Miami-Dade County customers dial 305-780-2274
  Broward County customers dial 954-780-2274}