Why Is Ten-Digit Dialing Necessary?
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Grafton Technologies Inc. (GTI) has been mandated by the FCC to implement 10 digit dialing ordered by the FCC, beginning on Sunday, October 24, 2021. At that time, you MUST dial ten digits (area code (618) + local telephone number) for ALL local 618 calls. On and after this date, local 618 calls dialed with only seven digits will not complete.
According to the FCC’s website, “There are more phones in America than there are people, and each phone needs its own phone number. Beginning in the early 1990s, to accommodate the growing need for more phone numbers, some areas began to add a second area code for local calls,”
The website said, “ If dialing both the area code and the seven-digit number was necessary to ensure the call reached the intended recipient. As more area codes begin to run out of new seven-digit numbers to assign, a second local area code may be added, requiring that area to transition to ten-digit dialing.”
Grafton Technologies sent out an explanation to its customer telling them about the changes coming out.
“There will be a recording instructing you to dial the area code and the seven digit telephone number. You will need to update your systems that have numbers preset in them for example: Phone systems. PBXs, fax machines and alarm systems,” Jennifer Stumpe Office Supervisor Grafton Technologies Inc. “Grafton Technologies Inc has put on a recording that will go into effect on Sunday October 24th that if they dial the 7 digits they will get a recording that states “We are sorry you must first dial the area code when calling this number will you please hang up and try your number again”.
She said things are not changing: the price of the call, long distance calls will still be 1 + the area code + telephone number. You can still dial three digit dialing such as 911, 411, 811, 611.
Should you have any questions, please call the office at 618-639-4841 or 618-786-3311.
Why is the local dialing plan changing?
On July 16, 2020, the FCC adopted an Order (FCC 20-100) approving 988 as the 3-digit abbreviated dialing code to reach the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, starting July 16, 2022. Customers must continue to dial 1-800-273-TALK (8255) to reach the Lifeline until July 16, 2022. 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. In order for 988 to work in the Illinois 309, 618 and 708 area codes, 10-digit local dialing (or 1+10-digit dialing) must first be implemented. Does this apply to Illinois? Yes. Implementation of this Order requires all covered providers to make 10-digit dialing mandatory for all local calls in the entire Illinois 309 and 618 area codes and 1+10-digit dialing in the 708 area code because 988 is assigned to customers as a working prefix.
Why is 10-digit dialing going to be required in these area codes? The FCC ordered that any area code that has the 988 prefix assigned and has 7-digit local dialing be transitioned to 10-digit local dialing to ensure everyone is able to reach the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline using the 3-digit 988 code.
Will everyone in the 309 and 618 area codes have to dial 10-digits and in the 708 area code have to dial 1+10-digits for local calls? Yes.
Every customer in the entire 309 and 618 area codes have to change to mandatory 10-digit dialing and in the 708 area code will have to change to mandatory 1+10-digit dialing for local calls. Dialing 7-digits for local calls will be prohibited for all customers in all three area codes. What will be the new dialing procedure? To complete local calls, the new dialing procedure requires callers to dial the area code + telephone number in the 309 and 618 area codes and 1+ the area code + telephone number in the 708 area code. This means that all local calls in the entire 309, 618 and 708 area codes that are currently dialed with 7-digits will need to be dialed using the new dialing procedure in each area code.
When will the dialing change become mandatory?
Beginning October 24, 2021, you must dial 10-digits (area code + telephone number) for all local calls in the 309 and 618 area codes and 1+10 digits (1+area code + telephone number) in the 708 area code. On and after this date, local calls dialed with only 7-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 10-digits 2 (area code + telephone number) in the 309 and 618 area codes and 1+10 digits (1+area code + telephone number) in the 708 area code. All telecom providers operating in the 309 and 618 area codes were expected to implement permissive 10-digit local dialing (and 1+10-digit dialing in the 708 area code) in their networks no later than April 24, 2021 and are required to implement mandatory 10-digit (or 1+10 digit) local dialing in their networks no earlier than October 24, 2021, and no later than July 15, 2022. What other changes need to be made? In addition to changing your dialing patterns, all services, automatic dialing equipment, or other types of equipment that are programmed to complete local calls using only 7-digit numbers will need to be reprogrammed to complete calls to 10-digit numbers. Some examples are: • 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 • mobile or other wireless phone contact lists • call forwarding settings • voicemail services and other similar functions Be sure to check your website, personal and business stationery, advertising materials, personal and business checks, contact information, your personal or pet ID tags, and other such items to ensure the area code is included. What will remain the same? • 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 (e.g., in a hotel, office building, etc.) as required • You can still dial just three digits to reach 711 (relay services) and 911 (emergency services) • If 211, 311, 411, 511, 611, or 811 are currently available in your community, dial these codes with just three digits.
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
It can still be reached by dialing 1-800-273-8255 (TALK) even after the 988 code is in effect. Will telecom providers have to do anything if their customers already dial 10-digits (or 1+10-digits) for local calls? Yes, telecom providers whose customers already dial 10-digits (or 1+10-digits) for local calls in the 309, 618 and 708 area codes still have to respond to NANPA with an email to 988@somos.com that includes the company name, OCN/s, and the affected state/area codes affirming that 10-digit (or 1+ 10-digit) dialing is in place. When can I begin dialing “988” to reach the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline? Beginning July 16, 2022, dialing “988” will route your call to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. Customers must continue to dial 1-800-273-8255 (TALK) to reach the Lifeline until July 16, 2022. Still have questions? Persons with questions about the change to the dialing procedure should send an email to 988@nanpa.com. For additional information, visit the NANPA website and the FCC website.