Hey, 630-ers, get ready to dial 10 digits

The peace and quiet of Sunday morning could be shattered with cries of "d'oh!" as new dialing procedures for the 630 area code take effect.

Authorities are reminding callers that those lazy days of seven-digit dialing are over. As of Sunday, everyone in the 630 region needs to hit 1 plus the full 10-digit number to reach a fellow 630-er.

The change is necessary because the system is running out of numbers, Illinois Commerce Commission officials say. As part of the process called an overlay, a new 331 area code will be added.

For those who didn't heed the overlay announcement by the ICC in July, a recorded message will remind callers of the transition.

"It's a minor inconvenience; that's what it boils down to," ICC spokesman Brian Sterling said.

Existing customers still will keep their area code and should have no problems obtaining extra 630 lines.

The 630 area code comprises most of DuPage and parts of Kane, Kendall, Cook and Will counties.

Growth in the area plus the advent of cell phones forced the changes.

The timeline and who gets the first 331 code isn't certain, although the ICC surmises it's likely to be cell phone customers.

Despite official assurances the transition will be a breeze, the Citizens Utility Board isn't buying it.

CUB Executive Director David Kolata called the extra dialing an inconvenience and blames inefficiencies in the distribution of numbers.

"It's a totally artificial crisis," Kolata said.

Other overlays have involved the 847 and 815 area codes in 2002 and early this year, respectively.

DuPage County Economic Development and Planning Director Tom Cuculich said he's spoken with business leaders, and there's no panic.

"It's not as big a deal as it was before," Cuculich said.