Customers adding new phone numbers or lines in Chicago’s south suburbs could be assigned a brand new area code beginning Friday, according to the Illinois Commerce Commission.

       The new area code, 464, soon will be assigned to people living in the area covered by the 708 area code. Current users of the 708 area code can keep their number, as the change only affects new numbers and lines, according to the commerce commission.

       Rates and services will not change, it said.

       The addition of the new area code, announced by the ICC in August, was in response to increasing demand for new phone numbers.

       The 708 area code serves most of western and southern Cook County and eastern and southern Will County. Affected communities include Alsip, Beecher, Bellwood, Berwyn, Blue Island, Bridgeview, Broadview, Burbank, Calumet City, Chicago Heights, Chicago Ridge, Country Club Hills, Crest Hill, Crete, Dolton, Elmwood Park, Evergreen Park, Flossmoor, Forest Park, Glenwood, Harvey, Harwood Heights, Hazel Crest, Hickory Hills, Homewood, Justice, La Grange, Lansing, Lyons, Markham, Matteson, Maywood, Melrose Park, Midlothian, Mokena, Norridge, Northlake, Oak Forest, Oak Lawn, Oak Park, Orland Park, Palos Hills, Palos Park, Park Forest, Richton Park, River Forest, River Grove, Riverdale, South Holland, Steger, Tinley Park, Westchester, Western Springs and Worth.

       If it is important to residents in those areas to have a 708 number, it might be possible to secure a new line or number before Friday, when the change goes into effect.

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