(Des Moines) – Iowans in the 515 and 319 area code will soon be required to dial ten-digits to complete local calls. The change is coming after the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) moves to a three-digit dialing code (988) for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline on July 16, 2022.
In order for 988 to work in the Iowa 319 and 515 area codes, every customer in those area codes must transition to 10-digit dialing for local calls.
The Iowa Utilities Board is reminding telephone customers that the transition period has begun, and Iowans in the 515 and 319 area codes are encouraged to complete local calls now by dialing 10 digits (area code + seven digit telephone number).
The I-U-B says starting October 24, 2021, all Iowans with numbers in the 319 and 515 area codes must use 10-digit dialing for all local calls.
As of that date, local calls dialed with only seven digits may not be completed, and a recording may indicate a call cannot be completed as dialed. If you get this recording, you must hang up and dial again using the full 10-digit number (area code with the seven-digit telephone number).
Beginning July 16, 2022, anyone dialing 988 will be connected to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.
The FCC adopted order (FCC 20-100) on July 16, 2020, approving 988 as the three-digit abbreviated dialing code to reach the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. The order requires all telecommunications carriers, interconnected Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) providers, and one-way VoIP providers (covered providers) to make any network changes necessary to ensure that users can dial 988 to reach the existing National Suicide Prevention Lifeline by July 16, 2022.
The FCC ordered that any area code that has the 988 prefix assigned to telephone numbers and uses seven-digit local dialing must transition to 10-digit (area code + telephone number) local dialing to ensure everyone is able to reach the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline using the three-digit code, 988.