Systems and methods for modifying the area code in a wireless communication device are provided that provide authorization from the carrier. The wireless communication device contains a table of valid area codes in persistent memory. The table defines the complete set of area codes that can be used by the wireless communication device. The wireless device is capable of receiving an instruction from the network that causes the current area code to be changed to a new area code from the table of valid area codes. Alternatively, the wireless device is capable of receiving an instruction from the network that causes the current table of area codes to be replaced with a new table of area codes that is received from the network along with the instruction. After installation of the new table of valid area codes, then the wireless communication device can be instructed to change from the current area code to a new area code in the new table of valid area codes.