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 New Three-Digit 988 Crisis Line Number Requires Expanded Ten-Digit Local Call
                                    Dialing

   Adam Engst

   In many parts of the US, it has long been possible to make local calls
   with just the seven-digit phone number; the three-digit area code was
   implicit for calls between numbers using the same area code. Last year,
   however, the Federal Communications Commission decided to establish 988
   as an easy-to-remember three-digit phone number for Americans to use to
   reach the [1]National Suicide Prevention Lifeline in times of crisis.
   That hotline is currently accessible at 1-800-273-TALK (8255), and the
   988 number will go into effect on 16 July 2022.

   Since some areas that use seven-digit dialing also use 988 as the first
   three digits of the number, [2]the FCC is requiring all carriers to
   implement ten-digit dialing in those areas, with 24 October 2021 as a
   cutoff date. T-Mobile recently alerted its customers to this change,
   providing [3]a list of area codes by state that will lose access to
   seven-digit dialing in October. If you're in one of those area codes,
   you need to update stored seven-digit phone numbers to include the area
   code; calls placed with seven-digit numbers may not complete, and
   you'll hear a recording explaining why.

   Luckily, Apple makes it easy to find offending phone numbers in the
   Contacts app on the iPhone and iPad. Just search for the three-digit
   exchanges that are commonplace in your area to see which contacts lack
   the area code. After you tap a contact with a too-short phone number,
   the only hard part is remembering to tap Edit instead of the phone
   number (which immediately calls the person).


   [4]Read original article

References

   Visible links
   1. https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/
   2. https://www.fcc.gov/suicide-prevention-hotline
   3. https://www.t-mobile.com/support/coverage/ten-digit-dialing
   4. https://www.t-mobile.com/support/coverage/ten-digit-dialing

   Hidden links:
   5. https://tidbits.com/wp/../uploads/2021/08/7-digit-phone-numbers.jpg

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