Heads up, Coloradans — the familiar 970 area code that’s graced phones from Grand Junction to Fort Collins for nearly three decades is officially tapped out. Starting this week, any brand-new phone lines will ring in with a shiny new code: 748.

What This Means for Your Current Number

First thing’s first: don’t panic. If you’ve already got a 970 number, you’re good to go. That old number’s not changing — no need to scroll through your contacts and freak out.

State regulators say the only folks affected are those setting up a brand-new line. Maybe you’re adding a second phone for work or setting up service for your teen who’s been begging for their first smartphone. In that case, the area code on the paperwork will read 748 instead of 970.

One local shop owner in Grand Junction said she’s fielded a few confused calls already. “People thought their numbers would flip overnight — not true!” she laughed. “Just the newbies get the new digits.”

Why the Switch Now?

Seems wild that three simple numbers could “run out,” right? But it happens.

Colorado’s Public Utilities Commission says the 970 region has grown so much — with new homes, cell phones, and business lines — that it finally hit capacity. Back in 1995, 970 was split off from 303. Now, three decades later, there’s simply no room left in the 970 phone number pool.

In short, more people equals more numbers. And nobody wants to share.

How Long Will 748 Last?

Get this — officials believe 748 should keep ringing for a while. The Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies estimates the new code will stay in play for about 38 years.

That projection depends on how many people move in, how many devices we keep adding, and other factors. If trends hold, we’ll hit another code change around 2063. Feels like a lifetime away, doesn’t it?

One-liner: For now, the plan is to ride 748 until the wheels fall off.

No Impact on Call Costs or Coverage

Some people get nervous that a new area code means bigger bills. Not this time.

Officials stress that nothing else is changing: call costs, your coverage area, and how local calls work all stay exactly the same. Even your three-digit lifelines like 911 and 988 are untouched.

Here’s the quick takeaway in bullet form:

• Existing 970 numbers stay active

• Only new lines get 748

• Call costs, coverage areas stay the same

• 911 and other three-digit services are unaffected

Basically, the only thing changing is the prefix — everything else in your phone plan stays put.

A Quick Look Back at Colorado’s Area Code Evolution

Colorado’s no stranger to area code shake-ups. Back in the day, 303 covered the entire state. Then came the splits: 719, 970, and 720 all cropped up to handle the boom.

Here’s a tiny table to jog your memory:

One sentence: Some locals still get nostalgic about the 303 days — life felt simpler, right?

Locals Weigh In on the Change

Opinions run the gamut. Some folks couldn’t care less. Others feel oddly sentimental about the old code.

Emily Vasquez, a college student in Fort Collins, summed it up: “I grew up with 970. It’s like my roots, you know? My new work phone’s gonna have 748, and it just feels…weird.”

Meanwhile, older residents who lived through previous splits just shrug. “We survived 719 and 720,” said one retiree sipping coffee downtown. “We’ll survive 748.”