MADISON, Wis. – Life in southwest Wisconsin soon will have a new layer of complexity. The state Public Service Commission authorized a new area code for the 608 area. The new code, 353, will be used for new and additional lines. This is effective September 15. The Commission said the 21-county 608 zone was running out of available digits. The Commission said there will be no new customer charges between the old 608 and new 353 numbers.
Additional area code. Among affected counties: Buffalo, La Crosse, and Trempealeau.