 Late in 1996, the Kansas Corporation Commission, which oversees telecommunications in the state, requested relief from the North American Numbering Plan Administrator (NANPA) for the exchanges of area code 913, and on February 12, 1997, the NANPA responded by splitting off the bulk of the old 913 territory—essentially, everything from Lawrence westward—into the new 785 area code.From July 20, 1997 through October 2, 1998, a period of permissive dialing was in use, allowing customers affected by the new area code to use either 913 or 785 when dialing long-distance.On October 3, 1998, the 785 area code became mandatory in the new calling area, and 913 was reduced to the Kansas City area.