Can You Dig It? In Wisconsin, Dialing "811" Will Tell You

April 2, 2007

Telecom Policy Report notes that the state of Wisconsin's Public Service Commission has green-lighted the uses of the numbers “511” for traffic tips and “811” for the Digger's Hotline.

Offered by the eponymously named, not-for-profit Diggers Hotline, the "811" number will be a key source of information for builders and contractors about whether there are underground phone and other utility lines in the vicinity of where they are planning on digging.

Or, as I vaguely recall similarly-intended information in an old BellSouth White Pages long ago and far away, "call before you dig. (to obtain this information). "You may not be able to afterwards."

As for when, "811" services should be available in Wisconsin around the middle of this month. (If you are just waking up, that means April, wich we are in now.

And "511"? Fall, 2008, we're told. Until then, I guess Wisconsinites will have to depend on radio station traffic reports for that type of info.