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The Telecom Digest for Fri, 15 Oct 2021
Volume 40 : Issue 277 : "text" format

table of contents
Ten-Digit Phone Dialing Takes Effect Oct. 24th

Message-ID: <4881600d-0438-452f-21dc-720a62eb1f57@gmail.com> Date: 14 Oct 2021 12:20:39 -0400 From: "George Smith" <geosmith@gmail.com> Subject: Ten-Digit Phone Dialing Takes Effect Oct. 24th Cut & Paste from a Dutchess County NY Press Release. The original release can be found at https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/NYDUTCHESS/bulletins/2f77178 Ten-Digit Phone Dialing Takes Effect Oct. 24th Under FCC change, County residents and businesses in 845 and 914 must dial area code to make local calls Poughkeepsie, NY - Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro today reminded residents and businesses that starting Sunday, Oct. 24th, a change by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) will require those living and working within area codes 845 or 914 to dial the area code when they place local calls within those area codes; several years ago, a similar change took effect for area code 518, the only other area code within Dutchess County. Dialing 911 in the event of an emergency will not be affected by this change; all preprogramed numbers in Dutchess County's 911 Communications Center have been updated. The FCC has adopted 988 as a new three-digit number to be used nationwide to reach the National Suicide Prevention and Mental Health Crisis Lifeline, necessitating this new shift to 10-digit dialing in the affected area codes; this change is occurring in 35 states since there were 82 area codes, including 845 and 914, that use 988 as a prefix. Wireless customers nationwide may dial either 988 or 1-800-273-TALK (8255) to reach the Lifeline now; landline customers must continue to dial 1-800-273-TALK (8255) to reach the Lifeline until July 16, 2022. Additional information is available at www.fcc.gov/suicide-prevention-hotline. County Executive Molinaro said, "I encourage residents and businesses to update the contacts' information in their mobile phones and similar systems before the Oct. 24th switch-over to avoid any inconvenience once the FCC's change takes place. This is an important change that will make it easier for callers nationwide to contact the National Suicide Prevention and Mental Health Crisis Lifeline and get the assistance they need. The simple addition of three digits to local phone calls can help save a life." Beginning Oct. 24th, local calls dialed with only seven digits may not be completed, and a recording may inform residents that their call cannot be completed as dialed. If residents receive this recording, they must hang up and dial again using the area code and the seven-digit number. [omitted list of things with phone numbers programmed or listed that might have to be updated] County Executive Molinaro reminded residents and businesses that their telephone number, including current area code, will not change nor will the price of a call, coverage area or other rates and services. Residents throughout Dutchess County will continue to dial 1 + area code + telephone number for all long-distance calls.

End of telecom Digest Fri, 15 Oct 2021

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