North Louisiana is in line to received a new area code as the Louisiana Public Service Commission has approved the addition of a 457 area code, to the 318 area code currently in place.

Affected areas include Alexandria, Bossier City, Ruston, Shreveport, Monroe, along with many other smaller towns, villages, and communities. Customers that have a 318 area code will not change their existing area code, but they will need to dial the area code and the 7-digit number to complete local calls.

The addition of the new 457 area code and the requirement for 10 digit dialing is scheduled to take place on Feb. 24. In an attempt to help make the adjustment and transition easier, for the next six months customers in North Louisiana will be given a permissive dialing period.

Then on August 25, new telephone lines may be assigned 457 area codes that will co-exist with the well-known 318 area code. All customers given a 457 area code will be required to dial 10 digits to make a local call.