New dialing procedure for customers in 82 area codes in 36 states

BASKING RIDGE, N.J. - On July 16, 2020, the FCC adopted “988” as the three-digit abbreviated dialing code to reach the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline starting July 16, 2022. For “988” to work for everyone in the 82 area codes listed below, all customers with a number from those area codes must transition to 10-digit dialing (or 1+10-digit dialing for landline customers in the area codes below with an asterisk).

  *1 + 10-digit dialing is required for landline customers

Starting April 24, 2021, customers with numbers in the above area codes should start dialing 10 digits (area code + phone number) for all local calls, including calls within the same area code. If customers forget and dial just seven digits, their calls still will be completed.

Starting October 24, 2021, customers with numbers in the above area codes must dial 10 digits (area code + phone number) for all local calls, including calls within the same area code. On and after this date, local calls dialed with only seven digits may not be completed, and a recording may inform the customer that the call cannot be completed as dialed.  If customers get this recording, they must hang up and dial again using the area code with the seven-digit phone number.

Starting July 16, 2022, dialing “988” or 1-800-273-TALK (8255) will route the call to the National Suicide Prevention and Mental Health Crisis Lifeline. Verizon wireless customers may dial either “988” or 1-800-273-TALK (8255) to reach the Lifeline now. Landline customers must continue to dial 1-800-273-TALK (8255) to reach the Lifeline until July 16, 2022.

How to prepare for the transition to 10-digit dialing

Customers need to ensure all services, automatic dialing equipment, applications, software, or other types of equipment that are programmed to dial a seven-digit number are reprogrammed to include the area code and dial 10 digits instead. Examples include life-safety systems, fax machines, Internet dial-up numbers, alarm and security systems or gates, ankle monitors, speed dialers, mobile and cordless phone contact lists, call forwarding settings, voicemail services, and other similar functions. Many types of important safety and security equipment, and medical alert devices, operate on 10-digit dialing by default but some older equipment may still use seven digits. Customers need to contact their medical alert or security provider if they are unsure whether their equipment needs to be reprogrammed to accommodate the upcoming change to 10-digit local dialing. Any needed reprogramming must be completed between April 24, 2021 and October 24, 2021 to avoid interruption of services.

Customers should check their websites, personal and business stationery, advertising materials, personal and business checks, contact information, personal or pet ID tags, and other such items to ensure the area code is included.

What will remain the same after the transition to 10-digit dialing?

• Customer telephone numbers, including current area code, will not change
• The price of a call, coverage area, or other rates and services will not change due to the new dialing procedure
• What is a local call now will remain a local call regardless of the number of digits dialed
• Customers will continue to dial 1+ the area code + phone number for long-distance calls
• Customers will continue to dial a prefix when dialing “988” from a multi-line telephone system, where a prefix is required (for example, dialing “9” first from a a hotel or office building multi-line telephone system)
• Customers will continue to dial just three digits to reach 911 (emergency services) and 711 (relay services), as well as 211, 311, 411, 511, 611, 711 or 811 where currently available in the community
• Customers can continue to dial 1-800-273-TALK (8255) to reach the Lifeline

For additional information, please visit us at verizon.com/988, or visit the FCC website at fcc.gov/suicide-prevention-hotline.