Some might remember when you could dial a phone number using only 5 digits, or when Sheboygan exchanges started with the reference to “Glencourt”. With those days now a faded memory, another telephone era will come to a close on October 24th this year when all customers with the area codes 920, 262, 414 and 608 will need to dial the area code along with the number, even for local calls.
The change comes after the Federal Communications Commission approved “988” as the three-digit abbreviated dialing code to reach the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline starting July 16th next year. To ensure “988” calls reach the lifeline, providers in 36 states, including Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, and Michigan, must transition to 10-digit dialing systems. As a result, 7-digit calls made on or after October 24th will not connect.
Some things won’t change with this transition, such as the ability to dial existing three-digit numbers such as 911 and 511. Rates won’t change, and a local call will remain local, while long distance calls will still begin by dialing a “1”. Also, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline can still be reached by dialing 1-800-273-TALK even after the change takes effect.
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