State regulators today gave their official consent to adding the 984 area code in the dozen North Carolina counties that currently use 919.

The N.C. Utilities Commission's approval sets March 31 as the date on which the second area code is adopted.

The commission order, issued today, also clears the way for phone companies in the state to make preparations to get their customers used to the idea of a second area code along with the necessity of 10-digit dialing for local calls.

Callers will have the option to use 10-digit dialing six months before it becomes required on March 31.

Triangle residents will get a second area code, along with mandatory 10-digit dialing, in less than 10 months.

The state's phone companies said today they will add the 984 area code on April 30 in the region currently served by 919.

The N.C. Telecommunications Industry Association spelled out an implementation schedule in a filing before the N.C. Utilities Commission. The commission is expected to approve the timetable.