Executive Summary
On July 16, 2020, the FCC designated 988 as the three-digit abbreviated dialing code for the National Suicide Prevention Hotline. This designation requires all telecommunication carriers and interconnected and one-way VoIP providers (covered providers) to make any network changes necessary to ensure that users can dial 988 to reach the existing Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255/1-800-273 (TALK) by July 16, 2022. In order to accommodate the new designation, every customer with a number in the area codes listed below with seven-digit local dialing must be transitioned to 10-digit local dialing (or 1 + 10-digit local dialing in CA and parts of IL).
Area codes affected by the designation of 988.
| Alaska | 907 | Alabama | 251 |
| Arkansas | 501 | Arizona | 480, 520, 928 |
| California | 209, 530, 562, 626, 650, 707, 925, 949, 951 | Colorado | 719, 970 |
| Delaware | 302 | Florida | 321(Brevard County only), 352, 561, 941 |
| Georgia | 478, 912 | Guam | 671 |
| Hawaii | 808 | Illinois | 309, 618, 708 |
| Indiana | 219, 574 | Iowa | 319, 515 |
| Kansas | 620, 785 | Kentucky | 859 |
| Louisiana | 337, 504 | Michigan | 616, 810, 906, 989 |
| Minnesota | 218, 952 | Mississippi | 662 |
| Missouri | 314, 417, 660, 816 | Montana | 406 |
| Nevada | 775 | New Hampshire | 603 |
| New Jersey | 856, 908 | New Mexico | 505, 575 |
| New York | 516, 607, 716, 845, 914 | North Carolina | 910 |
| Ohio | 440, 513 | South Dakota | 605 |
| Tennessee | 731, 865 | Texas | 254, 361, 409, 806, 830, 915, 940 |
| Vermont | 802 | Virginia | 276, 804 |
| Washington | 509 | Wisconsin | 262, 414, 608, 920 |
Key dates for the new designation
Starting April 24, 2021, all consumers with numbers in the area codes listed above should start dialing 10-digits (area code + telephone number) or 1 + 10-digits (1 + area code + telephone for numbers in CA and parts of IL) for all local calls. Calls dialed with just seven-digits will still be completed until October 24, 2021.
On and after October 24, 2021, all consumers with numbers in the area codes listed above must dial 10-digits (area code + telephone number) or 1 + 10-digits (1 + area code + telephone for numbers in CA and parts of IL) for all local calls. From this date onward, calls dialed with only seven-digits may not be completed. Consumers that attempt to dial with just seven-digits may receive a recording informing them that their call has not been completed and that they must hang up and try to dial again using the proper area code with the seven-digit number.
Other key changes
Safety and security equipment such as medical alert devices, and alarm and security systems must be programmed to use 10-digit (1 + 10-digit) dialing. Many systems are programmed by default to use 10-digit (1 + 10-digit) dialing, but some older equipment may still use seven-digits. If you are unsure whether or not your equipment needs to be reprogrammed to accommodate the upcoming transition to 10-digit (1 + 10-digit) dialing, please contact your medical alert or security provider.
In order to avoid the interruption of any services, all safety and security equipment must be reprogrammed during the permissive dialing period between April 24, 2021 to October 24, 2021.
Some examples of other services that may need to be reprogrammed include:
- life safety systems or medical monitoring devices
- PBXs
- fax machines
- Internet dial-up numbers
- fire or burglar alarm and security systems or gates
- speed dialers
- mobile or other wireless phone contact lists
- call forwarding settings
- voicemail services and other similar functions
Be sure to check your website, personal and business stationery, advertising materials, personal and business checks, contact information, your personal or pet ID tags, and other such items to ensure that your area code is included.
For more information about the designation of 988 to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, please visit the FCC website at https://www.fcc.gov/suicide-prevention-hotline.