---
title: "Defining Calling Areas"
slug: "defining-calling-areas"
updated: 2026-07-27T09:38:40Z
published: 2026-08-10T20:18:17Z
canonical: "help.idibilling.com/defining-calling-areas"
---

> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://help.idibilling.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Defining Calling Areas

Calling Areas are used in the Location field of a Rate Detail when the rating method is Area, Term Area, or Orig Area. These Areas must be defined in Product Management. You can include the following criteria in the area definition:

- Country (Must exist in the Countries and Regions table in Data Management.)
- Dialed Digits
- LATA
- PMN (Does not apply to wireline.)
- State
- Area (An already-defined Area.)
- Cell Site (For wireless originating areas only.)
- SID (For wireless originating areas only.)
- Serving PMN and LAC (Does not apply to wireline.)

To add or modify Calling Areas:

1. From the Applications menu, select **Product Management > Calling Areas**. This displays the Calling Areas - Defined Areas window.

**(Show picture)**

![](https://cdn.us.document360.io/3f7f8ade-bcb1-4ec8-af25-0c0ad8601afb/Images/Documentation/19325(1).bmp?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-11-14T11%3A08%3A11Z&se=2026-11-14T12%3A08%3A11Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=YqFaqB3astMmCDQLa53D%2FtRrC2GPCl34aKTMR%2FwI0Pk%3D)
2. Right-click in the list and select **New** or right-click on a record and select **Edit**. This displays the Calling Area Detail window.

**(Show picture)**

![](https://cdn.us.document360.io/3f7f8ade-bcb1-4ec8-af25-0c0ad8601afb/Images/Documentation/19326(1).bmp?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-11-14T11%3A08%3A11Z&se=2026-11-14T12%3A08%3A11Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=YqFaqB3astMmCDQLa53D%2FtRrC2GPCl34aKTMR%2FwI0Pk%3D)
3. Enter the Area Name of the calling area. The name can only contain letters, numbers, and underscore characters (no spaces). The name should be short (less than 10 characters) because the Area Name must be typed in the Location field of a Rate Detail.
4. Enter a description of the calling area.
5. Right-click in the list and select **New** or right-click on a record and select **Edit**. This displays the New/Edit Calling Area Detail window.

**(Show picture)**

![pmCallingAreaEdit](https://cdn.us.document360.io/3f7f8ade-bcb1-4ec8-af25-0c0ad8601afb/Images/Documentation/31402(1).gif?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-11-14T11%3A08%3A11Z&se=2026-11-14T12%3A08%3A11Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=YqFaqB3astMmCDQLa53D%2FtRrC2GPCl34aKTMR%2FwI0Pk%3D)

Enter the appropriate information in the Calling Area Detail Edit window based on the following:

| Actions | ***Include***: Includes the related criteria in the Calling Area. ***Exclude***: Excludes the related criteria that would otherwise be included in one of the other Calling Area Details (such as Exclude a particular NPANXX combination that would normally be included in the LATA used in another detail record). |
| --- | --- |
| Criteria Type | Criteria type to be used for rating. Select the criteria type from the list. Valid criteria types: Site ID (cell site ID), SID, Dialed Digits, LATA, State, Area (An existing Calling Area can be used to help define another Calling Area.), PMN (wireless only), [Country](/v1/docs/include-exclude-with-country-calling-areas), [Serving PMN and LAC](/v1/docs/serving-pmn-and-lac) (wireless only). |
| Criteria | Enter the specific detail of the Criteria Type, such as NY for State criteria type. |
6. Click **OK**. The Calling Area Detail Edit dialog closes and the Calling Area Detail window is the main focus again.
7. Click **Save**.

To delete a Calling Area, see [Deleting a Calling Area and Calling Area Details](/v1/docs/deleting-a-calling-area-and-calling-area-details).