I got a text today that TMobile is working on implementing the FCC’s new “988” service for mental health crisis. Like dialing 911, but this will be 988. Anyways, my area code, 708, is one of a handful effected by this that T-Mobile says I will need to dial the full 10 digits even for local calls. Just wondering if anyone can explain why this would be? What do these two things (new “988” service and my area code) have to do with each other? TIA.
In: Technology
When the new 9-8-8 number takes effect, dialing those three digits will immediately connect you to the hotline. Much like dialing 9-1-1, once you dial 9-8-8, everything else is ignored.
This is problematic for any existing phone numbers with a 988 central office code. The central office code consists of the three digits immediately following the area code. This means that, when dialing seven digits, the central office code consists of the first three digits. Once the 9-8-8 hotline is activated, any phone number with a 988 central office code will no longer be able to be dialed using seven digits.
To make things consistent, the FCC has decided to mandate 10-digit dialing for any area code with a 988 central office code, unless that central office code gets retired before the 9-8-8 hotline goes live.
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