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Final Phase of 505/575 Area Code Split to Begin October 5, 2008

 

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On October 7, 2007, the state of New Mexico was split into two area codes. The northwest region of the state has retained the 505 area code, and the rest of the state has obtained the new 575 area code.  This change was applied to wireline and wireless service as well as other communications services.

Local calls within your area code will continue to be dialed with 7-digit dialing; local calls from one area code to another area code will require 10-digit dialing. All long-distance calls will require 1+10-digit dialing. Remember to use the new 575 area code as needed.


Dialing Plan at a Glance

Type of Call Calling to Dialing Plan
Local Call Same Area Code 7-digits (XXX-XXXX)
Different Area Code 10-digits (Area Code+XXX-XXXX)
Toll Call or Long Distance All Area Codes 1+10-digits (1+Area Code + XXX-XXXX)
Operator Calls, credit card, collect, third party All Area Codes 0+10-digits (0+Area Code+XXX-XXXX)

505 Area Code - If your telephone number begins with one of the following prefixes, you retained the 505 area code

575 Area Code - If your telephone number begins with one of the following prefixes, you obtained the 575 area code

Prefix list prepared June 2008.
DISCLAIMER: This prefix list is based on information obtained from telecommunications industry documents. Changes can occur as new prefixes are added or old prefixes are disconnected.

Contact Information

You may visit the New Mexico Public Regulation Commission on the Web at www.nm575.info; call them at 1 888-4ASK-PRC; or write to them at 1120 Paseo De Peralta, PO Box 1269, Santa Fe NM 87501.

For assistance in Native American languages, please call 1 888-4ASK-PRC.

Frequently Asked Questions

  1. When did the new 575 area code go into effect?
  2. Who received the new 575 area code?
  3. What did not change?
  4. How does the new area code impact my home telephone service?
  5. What should I do to be sure my business telephone service continues to operate smoothly beginning October 5, 2008?
  6. What do I do if my business was assigned the new 575 area code?
  7. What other communication services might be affected?
  8. What should I do if I'm having trouble receiving calls from out-of state or internationally?
  9. Who is responsible for any costs that might be incurred?
  1. When did the new 575 area code go into effect?

    The new 575 area code change was effective on October 7, 2007. Mandatory use of the new 575 area code begins October 5, 2008.

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  2. Who received the new 575 area code?

    The New Mexico Public Regulation Commission has divided the state into two regions. The southern and eastern portions of the state, including, but not limited to, Alamogordo, Carlsbad, Clovis, Deming, Hobbs, Las Cruces, Penasco, Roswell, Raton, Silver City, and Taos, are now served by the new 575 area code. The northwestern region of the state, including, but not limited to, Albuquerque, Espanola, Farmington, Gallup, Las Vegas, Santa Fe, Shiprock, and most of the Navajo Nation, retain the 505 area code.

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  3. What did not change?

    The price of a call, local calling areas, coverage area, or other rates and services did not change. Except for Qwest prepaid wireless customers, your 7-digit telephone number will be the same. You can still dial just three digits to reach 911 and 411. If 211, 311, 511, 611, 711 and 811 are currently available in your community you can still dial them with just three digits.

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  4. How does the new area code impact my home telephone service?

    You’ll continue to receive the same great service you’re used to; however, if you haven’t already, you may want to do some of the following things, prior to October 5, 2008, to make sure you continue to receive calls from family and friends:

    • Notify those people and businesses who call you of the change if you live in the area of the state that has received the new 575 area code.
    • Change your area code to 575 if it appears on things like checks or stationery.
    • If necessary, reprogram equipment like automatic-dialers, fax machines or computer modems before October 5, 2008.
    • Be sure everyone in your household knows your new 575 area code, paying particular attention to children, the disabled, and the elderly.

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  5. What should I do to be sure my business telephone service continues to operate smoothly beginning October 5, 2008?
    • All businesses in New Mexico should verify that their telephone equipment is capable of completing calls to the new 575 area code. New area codes across the country, like the new 575 area code, use a different format than other area codes in the past, which could only have a “1” or a “0” as the middle digit. Some telephone equipment used by businesses will not recognize the new area code until that equipment has been reprogrammed or upgraded.
    • You will need to reprogram or upgrade your equipment if your business uses specialized communications equipment like a PBX, electronic telephone sets, auto-dial systems or multi-line key systems.
    • Before October 5, 2008, test your telephone equipment to determine if it recognizes the new 575 area code by calling one of these test numbers: 575-600-1234; 575-580-0575; or 575-295-0000. Remember that you may need to dial 1 + the 10-digit telephone number if these numbers are long-distance.  If your test call is successful, you will reach a recorded message. If a call to the test number does not go through, contact your equipment provider.

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  6. What should I do if my business was assigned the new 575 area code?
    • Change your area code on such things as stationery, business cards, signs, web sites and advertisements.
    • Ask your employees to always include your area code whenever they give out the phone number for your business.
    • Notify all of your customers that your area code has changed.
    • To ensure you don’t miss important calls, make your customers aware that they may need to make changes to their equipment to recognize the new 575 area code.
    • Encourage your customers to request assistance from their local service provider if they have trouble calling you.

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  7. What other communication services might be affected?
    • Wireless phones that are assigned the new 575 area code will need to be reprogrammed prior to October 5, 2008, or service will cease. If you have a Qwest wireless phone, we have contacted you with instructions about reprogramming your phone. When contacting Qwest to have your wireless handset reprogrammed, you MUST call from a phone other than your wireless phone. Failure to make this change prior to October 5, 2008, will result in the loss of service and the loss of your wireless telephone number. Alternatively, feel free to visit one of the Qwest Solution Centers near you. Locations are listed on our web site at www.qwest.com.
    • Prepaid wireless phones will need a number change. If you have a Qwest Wireless Prepaid phone, please contact us at your convenience prior to October 5, 2008.
    • Calling features such as Speed Dialing and Call Forwarding will need to be updated with the new 575 area code.
    • Owners of coin-operated telephones must contact their equipment vendor for any specific equipment requirements and changes.
    • In addition to any changes in your dialing procedures, services that operate with automatic dialing equipment will require changes or reprogramming. Some examples are life safety systems, fax machines, Internet dial-up numbers, alarm and security systems, security gates, speed dialers, call forwarding settings, voicemail, and similar services.

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  8. What should I do if I'm having trouble receiving calls from out-of-state or internationally?
    • Calls from out-of-state originate with the callers’ local telephone provider or international carrier. If an out-of-state or international caller can not reach you with the new 575 area code, or has been able to reach you with the 505 area code, it is likely a problem with their customer equipment, local service provider, long-distance or international carrier. These problems must be reported by the out-of-state or international caller to their local service provider for resolution.
    • If you have friends or family outside the United States or deployed in the Military, make sure they know and use your new 575 area code.

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  9. Who is responsible for any costs that might be incurred?
    • Because the area code change is the result of normal growth in the state of New Mexico, any costs incurred for updating customer owned systems and revising printed materials are the responsibility of the individual telephone customer.

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Questions?

Please visit us online at www.qwest.com or call Qwest at one of the numbers listed below, if you have any questions about the New Mexico area code split.

Residential 1 800-244-1111
Wireless 1 800 244-1111
Small Business 1 800 603-6000
Large Business 1 800-777-9594
Government & Education 1 800-777-9594
Federal Services 1 800-879-1023

You may also visit the New Mexico Public Regulation Commission on the Web at www.nm575.info; call them at 1 888-4ASK-PRC; or write to them at

1120 Paseo De Peralta
PO Box 1269
Santa Fe, NM 87501