Reminder: Mandatory 10-Digit Dialing Changes Coming in Fall 2021 Impacting 37 States
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On July 16, 2020, the FCC adopted an Order (FCC 20-100) approving 988 as the 3-digit abbreviated dialing code to reach the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, starting July 16, 2022. Customers must continue to dial 1-800-273-TALK (8255) to reach the Lifeline until July 16, 2022.
The Order requires all telecommunications carriers, interconnected Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) providers, and one-way VoIP providers (covered providers) to make any network changes necessary to ensure that users can dial 988 to reach the existing National Suicide Prevention Lifeline by July 16, 2022. For 988 to work in the area codes in the below-attached document, 10-digit local dialing must first be implemented.
All PSAP equipment, such as speed dialers and call forwarding equipment with a number from the area code listed in the below-attached document and programmed to dial only 7 digits must be updated or reprogrammed to dial 10 digits (area code + telephone number) or 1+10-digit dialing (1+ area code + telephone number) depending on dialing plan for all local calls in the area codes listed above. Such updates or reprogramming must occur between April 24, 2021 and October 24, 2021 (the permissive dialing period). Starting these efforts before April 24, 2021 may result in 10-digit calls not being completed (if permissive 10-digit dialing has not yet been implemented). And on and after October 24, 2021, 7-digit calls may not be completed.
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