By Jordan J. Phelan
EAGLE TIMES STAFF
Residents in 35 states across the country — including New Hampshire and Vermont in the 603 and 802 area codes — will be required to dial 10 digits — three-digit area code and seven-digit phone number — for all local calls starting on Sunday, Oct. 24.
On and after this date, local calls dialed with only seven digits may not be completed and a recording may inform customers that your call cannot be completed as dialed. The recording will ask customers to please hang up and redial with 10 digits.
As part of the 988-implementation process, the North American Numbering Plan Administrator (NANPA) has identified 84 area codes that must transition to 10-digit dialing before the deadline for the number to be operational, including New Hampshire’s 603 area code and Vermont’s 802 area code.
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) directed NANPA to develop an implementation schedule that will allow all covered providers to meet the deadline to transition to 10-digit dialing in areas that both use seven-digit dialing and use 988 as the first three numbers in seven-digit phone numbers. Under NANPA’s implementation schedule, permissive 10-digit dialing was implemented by April 24, 2021, with mandatory 10-digit dialing required by Sunday, Oct. 24.
Residents and businesses should also check their business stationery or advertising materials to ensure the area code is included.
Beginning July 16, 2022, dialing 988 will connect people to the National Suicide Prevention and Mental Health Crisis Lifeline, as proposed by the FCC. The FCC hopes that a shorter, easy-to-remember number will more efficiently provide people with help when they need it most. However, until July 16, 2022, people should continue to call 1-800-273-TALK to reach the lifeline.
In an emergency that requires immediate assistance from the police, fire department, or ambulance, dialing 911 is still the number customers should use.
It is important to note that:
— 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 the dialing change.
— A local call now will remain a local call regardless of the number of digits dialed.
— You will continue to dial 1+ area code + telephone number for all long-distance calls.
— You can still dial just three digits to reach 611 (VTel) or 911 (emergency services).
If are a New Hampshire resident, please direct any and all questions you have to 603-271-2231 or visit nh.gov/hsem. If are a Vermont resident, please direct any and all questions you have to 1-888-CALL-TDS or visit tdstelecom.com. You can also visit the FCC website at fcc.gov/suicide-prevention-hotline.
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