The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has approved the designation of 988 as the new national, 3-digit suicide and mental health crisis hotline. The new hotline will be dialed nationally as a 3-digit number, similar to 911, which is the national emergency call system, and will come into effect in 2022.
To prepare for the new hotline, the FCC is mandating customers move from 7-digit dialing to 10- digit dialing by Oct. 24, 2021. Starting on April 24, 2021, impacted customers in area Code 806, and six others –254, 361, 409, 830, 915, and 940 – can begin practicing dialing 10-digits as well as reprogramming phones or PBX systems as needed.
The Federal Communications Commission issued an order in July 2020 setting 988 as the three-digit abbreviated dialing code for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. The order requires telecom providers to make network changes to ensure 988 access by July 16, 2022.
To complete all local calls, you will need to dial the area code (806 for numbers in this area code), plus the telephone number. This applies to all calls within the area code that are currently dialed with 7-digits.
On and after Oct. 24, 2021, local calls dialed with only 7-digits may not be completed, and a recording will inform you that your call cannot be completed as dialed. If you get that recording, you must hang up and dial again using the area code and the 7-digit telephone number.
In addition to changing your dialing patterns, all services, automatic dialing equipment or other types of equipment that are programmed to complete 7-digit local calls, will need to be reprogrammed to complete calls to 10- digit numbers e.g., fax machines, internet dial-up numbers, fire or burglar alarm and security systems or gates, call-forwarding settings and voicemail services, or other similar functions.