Effective October 7, 2007, the New Mexico Public Regulation Commission will split the state of New Mexico into two area codes. The northwest region of the state will retain its current area code (505), and the rest of the state will get a new area code (575). This change will apply to wireline and wireless service as well as other communications services. For wireless service whether or not your area code will change depends on the location associated with your telephone number and not your business or residential address. To find out if your area code will be changing to 575, refer to the attached chart, which lists the affected phone number prefixes. If your prefix is on the list, rest assured that even though your area code will change, your seven-digit phone number will remain the same.

The area code change will not change the cost of a call or your coverage area. 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. Long-distance calls within your area code will continue to be dialed with 1+7-digit dialing, and to another area code will require 1+10-digit dialing. Remember to use the new 575 area code as needed.

Here are answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about the new 575 area code change.

Why is the new area code necessary?

New Mexico is running out of telephone numbers due to growth in state residents, communications service providers, available telecommunications products, and additional lines. The state is adding the new 575 area code to meet the demand for additional telephone numbers.

When will the new 575 area code go into effect?

The new 575 area code change will be effective October 7, 2007. For nearly a year afterward, however, callers will be able to use either the new or old area code to complete their calls. This period is called a “permissive dialing” period. Mandatory use of the new 575 area code will begin October 5, 2008, so all calls after that date to numbers in the new 575 area code will only be completed using that new area code.

Who will have 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 Alamogordo, Carlsbad, Clovis, Deming, Hobbs, Las Cruces, Penasco, Roswell, Raton, Silver City, and Taos, will be served by the new 575 area code. The northwestern region of the state, including Albuquerque, Espanola, Farmington, Gallup, Las Vegas, Santa Fe, Shiprock, and most of the Navajo Nation, will retain the 505 area code. For wireless service whether or not your area code will change depends on where your number is from and not your business or residential address. To find out if your area code will be changing to 575, refer to the attached chart, which lists the affected phone number prefixes. If your prefix is on the list, rest assured that even though your area code will change, your seven-digit phone number will remain the same.

What will not change?

Local calling areas will remain the same; the price of a call, coverage area, or other rates and services will not change. Your seven-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.

How will this affect my wireless phone?

Wireless phones associated with numbers that are assigned the new 575 area code may need to be reprogrammed; however, those wireless phones will be automatically reprogrammed through our systems.

Below you will find a map and a list of the prefixes that will change to the 575 area code. The prefix is the first three digits of the seven-digit number. For example 201 is the prefix for the phone number 505-201-0000.

What Actions Should I Take?

If your area code is changing to the 575 area code, people can start calling you using your new area code on October 7, 2007, although calls will continue to go through with your current area code until October 5, 2008. Even if your area code is not changing, you may begin using the 575 area code on October 7, 2007, to call numbers that have been affected. Although the mandatory change does not go into effect until October 5, 2008, we recommend using the new area code after October 7, 2007, so you’ll have more time to get into the habit of dialing new numbers.

Other things to do: 

• Calling features such as speed dialing and call forwarding may need to be updated with the new 575 area code.
• Services that operate with automatic dialing equipment may 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.

Are There Any Additional Actions I Should Take If My Area Code is Changing to 575?

• Notify those people and businesses who call you that your area code is changing to the new 575 area code.
• Change your area code to 575 if it appears on things like checks or stationery.
• Check, and if necessary, reprogram equipment like automatic-dialers, fax machines or computer modems before mandatory dialing begins.
• Be sure everyone in your household knows your new 575 area code, paying particular attention to children, the disabled, and the elderly.

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 will be the responsibility of the individual telephone customer.

New Mexico 505/575 Area Code Split

New Mexico 505 prefix listing
New Mexico 575 prefix listing

Questions?

Please call us if you have any questions about the area code split.

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.