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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsWill you need to dial your area code soon? 988 for suicide prevention is why
At least here in 804.
The change comes as the a new quick way to call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is implemented.
Central Virginias 804 area will become one of 82 area codes thats required to use 10-digit-dialing starting on Oct. 24. This means every local call must include the three-digit area code and seven-digit phone number, just as if you were dialing someone with a different area code.
The tradeoff? A potentially lifesaving new phone number.
People experiencing a crisis will soon be able to call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline by dialing 988, similar to how you can call 911.
The new short number for suicide prevention will be available nationally available by July 16, 2022.
In the meantime, people can call 1-800-273-8255
https://www.wric.com/news/local-news/dont-forget-that-area-code-804-switching-to-10-digit-dial-requirement/
proud patriot
(100,700 posts)we here in Hawaii will need to do this
gratuitous
(82,849 posts)You get used to it.
hlthe2b
(101,701 posts)I actually thought this was nationwide by now. I had also been doing it in CO's other area codes, 970 and 719 all along, although it appears that was not necessary up to now).
CurtEastPoint
(18,548 posts)lagomorph777
(30,613 posts)LeftInTX
(24,541 posts)I thought it was all over the country. I did not know it was a regional thing??
From 2018: https://www.att.com/support/smallbusiness/article/smb-digital-phone/KM1195588/
SamKnause
(13,037 posts)Dave in VA
(2,034 posts)Ms. Toad
(33,915 posts)TDale313
(7,820 posts)We also have to dial the 1 before the area code.
cloudbase
(5,486 posts)Maeve
(42,223 posts)ProfessorGAC
(64,413 posts)They made the switch as the first pocket sized cellphones started taking off.
The sudden expansion of numbers in the Chicago market had them worried about running out of numbers, especially in the 312 area code.
I always wondered why they just wouldn't add an 8th digit, and get 10x the numbers.
Then, a guy who worked for at&t told me there was a huge programming & switch logic effort to do that.
One line of code in the logic was needed to require the area code. Made sense.
That was a long time ago. 1993 at the latest.
csziggy
(34,119 posts)And added a new area code to the region.
I'm glad to hear of the new suicide hotline number - that is very useful to have nationwide. I hope it saves a lot of lives!
kcr
(15,300 posts)I can't remember the last time I dialed using only 7 digits.
Raine
(30,540 posts)for decades even when calling someone just across the street.
nuxvomica
(12,360 posts)The 838 area code was overlaid on the 518 area and suddenly one day we had to dial the area code for each 518 number. I still have not encountered an 838 number.