By Elissa Glasman

Beginning May 1, 2007 the FCC is designating 811 as the new designated national  CALL BEFORE YOU DIG phone number.  This number has been created to eliminate confusion of multiple "Call BeforeYou Dig" numbers across the country.  This quick and efficient service connects callers with local One Call Centers who notify the appropriate local utilities, who then send crews to the requested site to mark the approximate location of underground lines.

One easy phone call to 811 starts the process to get your underground utility lines marked for free. When you call 811 from anywhere in the country, your call will be routed to your local One Call Center. Your local One Call Center operators will ask you for the location of your digging job and route your call to Northern Lights (NLI).  NLI will then send a professional locator to your location to mark your lines within a few days. Once your underground lines have been field marked with reasonable accuracy you can proceed to dig safely, because knowing what’s below protects you and your family. 

When do you need to call?

You need to call for underground locates before planning a home improvement job, planting a tree, installing a fence or deck or any other project that involves digging. Before calling, it is very important that you identify and mark the exact area you are proposing to be excavated, with white paint or flagged with white ribbon, so the NLI locator can field mark the location where you will be digging, with reasonable accuracy.

Smart digging means calling 811 before each job. Whether you are a homeowner or a professional excavator, one call to 811 gets your underground utility lines marked for FREE.

( The local  posted Call Before You Dig phone numbers will still be in effect for a short time.)