Starting Sunday, Erath County residents and those in the 254 area code will have to dial 10 digits for all calls including local numbers.
This change is the result of an FCC order approved July 16, 2020 (FCC-20-100) which approved the number ‘988’ as a quick way to dial the National Suicide Prevention Hotline (currently 1-800-273-8255 or TALK).
On and after Sunday, local calls dialed with only seven-digits may not be completed, and a recording will inform you that your call cannot be completed as dialed. If you get this recording, you must hang up and dial again using the area code with the sevendigit telephone number.
Everyone is reminded to not only change their dialing habits but to reprogram any device in which seven digits may be used instead of 10 in autodialing. These devices may include:
■ life safety systems or medical monitoring devices
■ PBXs
■ fax machines
■ Internet dial-up numbers
■ fire or burglar alarm and security systems or gates ■ speed dialers
■ speed dialers
■ mobile or other wireless phone contact lists
■ call forwarding settings
■ voicemail services and other similar functions
Other area codes undergoing this change Sunday include: 361, 409, 806, 830, 915 and 940.
The switch on Sunday will not affect the following:
■ 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
■ What is a local call now will remain a local call regardless of the number of digits dialed
■ You will continue to dial 1+ the area code + telephone number for all long-distance calls
■ You will continue to dial a prefix (such as “9”) when dialing from a multi-line telephone system (i.e., in a hotel, office building, etc.) as required
■ You can still dial just three digits to reach 711 (relay services) and 911 (emergency services)
Any 211, 311, 411, 511, 611, or 811 services available in your community can still be reached by dialing their three-digit codes
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline can still be reached by dialing 1-800-273-8255 (TALK) even after the 988 code is in effect. To find more
To find more information on the Suicide Prevention Hotline changes and the mandatory 10-digit dialing, visit - https://www.fcc.gov/suicide-prevention-hotline
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is available today, providing suicide prevention and mental health crisis assistance at 1-800-273-8255 and through online chats.
The Veterans Crisis Line is available today, providing Veteran specific suicide prevention and crisis assistance at 1 800 273 8255 (Press 1), by texting 838255, and through online chats at veteranscrisisline.net.
—Citizen staff report