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As of Oct. 24, 2021, the FCC is requiring that local telephone companies force all customers to dial the full ten digits of any phone number (area code + telephone number) to place calls. |
Why is the FCC requiring this change?
- Today there are more phones than people in the United States and the FCC requires that every phone have its own number.
- In addition, on July 16, 2020, the FCC adopted rules to establish 988 as the new, nationwide, three-digit phone number for Americans in crisis to connect with suicide prevention and mental health crisis counselors.
- The rules require phone service providers to direct all 988 calls to the existing National Suicide Prevention Lifeline by July 16, 2022. There are 82 regions that have phone numbers that begin with 988. The FCC is concerned about people accidentally dialing the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.
What does this mean for Nextiva customers?
- Nextiva has already enabled support for 988 earlier in the year. So customers have been able to reach the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline simply by dialing 988.
- Nextiva has fully supported 10-digit dialing since our inception. Our platform has always added the local area code to any call that was made by dialing only seven digits.
- A call placed by a customer who only dials seven digits will continue to go through.
- This feature will continue to be supported until January 31, 2022.
- Starting on February 1, to complete all local calls, you will need to dial either the area code + telephone number or 1 + area code + telephone number. This applies to all calls within your area code including those that are currently dialed with seven digits.
Why is this change necessary?
There are 82 regions in the US that support phone numbers that begin with 988. A user who starts dialing a 7-digit phone number that begins with 988, and pauses before dialing the rest of the number, could accidentally be routed to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.
What will remain the same?
- Your telephone number, including current area code, will not change.
- The price of a call, coverage area, or other rates and services will not change due to this dialing change.
- What is a local call now will remain a local call regardless of the number of digits dialed.
- You will continue to dial all long-distance calls exactly the same as before.
- You can still dial just three digits to reach 911 (emergency services) and 711 (relay services), as well as 211, 311, 411, 511, 611, or 811, where those services are available in your community.
- The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline can still be reached by dialing 1-800-273-TALK (8255).