The Federal Communications Commission (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, starting July 16, 2022. Customers must continue to dial 1-800-273-TALK to reach the Lifeline until July 16, 2022.
In order for 988 services to work in Colorado, 10-digit local dialing must first be implemented. Colorado’s 719 and 970 area codes are impacted by this change, and will switch to 10-digit dialing.
What will be the new dialing procedure?
To complete all local calls, you will now need to dial area code + telephone number. This applies to all calls within your area code that are currently dialed with seven digits.
Who will be affected?
Anyone with a telephone number from the 719 or 970 area codes will need to make this change from 7-digit local dialing to 10-digit local dialing.
When will the change begin?
Beginning April 24, 2021, you should begin dialing 10 digits (area code + telephone number) for all local calls. If you forget and dial just 7 digits, your call will still be completed.
Beginning October 24, 2021, you must dial 10-digits (area code + telephone number) for all local calls. After this date, local calls dialed with only 7-digits may not be completed, and you may receive a recording that informs you that your call cannot be completed as dialed. You must hang up and dial again using the area code and the 7-digit number.
Handset Updates
If you have a Polycom or Yealink handset that is provisioned through Option9, beginning on October 24th you MUST do 10-digit dialing to reach 719-988-xxxx or 970-988-xxxx numbers. If you begin a call with “988” it will autocomplete to the hotline. Beginning on November 14th, handsets will be updated and calls dialed with only 7 digits may not attempt to complete.
We encourage all users to change to 10-digit dialing immediately to get comfortable!