Old habits die hard.

But telephone users in eastern Nebraska need to prepare for a change.

Sometime in 2011, a new area code - 531 - will likely be added to the two Nebraska already has, says Public Service Commission Chairman Frank Landis.

And people - mostly those in Lincoln and Omaha, at first - will find themselves dialing 10 digits every time they call across town. The change will affect landline and cell phone users.

But a 10-digit call will not be considered a long-distance call as long as it's within a local calling area. Toll calls will be preceded by a "1" just as they are now.

Simply put, the state is running out of 402 area code numbers. It was originally predicted Nebraska would need a new area code by the end of 2000. But by using some conservation measures - pooling numbers by carriers and sharing by cities - Nebraska has hung onto 402 as the sole area code in the eastern part of the state.

Landis said he sees the need for the new area code as a positive sign of robust demand for telephone numbers and good activity in eastern Nebraska.

Western Nebraska isn't expected to exhaust its 308 area code for quite a while, he said.

The North American Numbering Plan Administration selected and reserved the new area code about five years ago.

So, by the end of 2011, officials expect new numbers will have the new area code, Landis said. But the state will avoid the change as long as it can, and will not designate a certain date to change at this time.

"I think we've stretched this out to the limit," he said. "But there's no reason to put people through (the change) any sooner than absolutely necessary."

The PSC opted to mix in area codes all over the 402 area - that's called an overlay - rather than draw geographical lines and change entire cities or areas, like the division between 402 and 308, Landis said. It's the least intrusive option, he said.

"We didn't want to create a class of winners and losers. We're all going to share a little bit of change here."

A geographical switch would not require dialing the 10-digit number to call across the street, but it would have required everyone to change phone numbers, and all the hassle of reprogramming and updating that goes along with it, Landis said. The overlay method will not require existing numbers to change.

Joe Cocke, senior area code relief planner with the North American Numbering Plan Administration, said making everyone change numbers can disrupt businesses, medical offices and individual people.

It's human nature to resist change, he said, but most people can adjust to 10-digit dialing and a new area code.

In Nebraska, people will have an education period of at least six months, and then probably eight months of being able to dial either a seven-digit or 10-digit number, he said.

Once 10-digit dialing becomes mandatory, he said, a recording will remind people, by passing along this message: "We're sorry. But it's necessary to dial the area code with this number."

Reach JoAnne Young at 473-7228 or jyoung@journalstar.com.