Required 10-digit local dialing kicks in Sunday in Tucson, much of Arizona | Business News

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New hotline calls for changes

The move to 10-digit local phone numbers is required by the Federal Communications Commission to add a new three-digit emergency number 988 for mental health and suicide prevention.

Since the first three digits of some local phone numbers contain 988, these area codes are required to switch to 10-digit dialing for local numbers.

The election change comes long before the launch of the new National Suicide Prevention Lifeline number, which is not expected to be operational until mid-July 2022.

Telephone providers are preparing

Meanwhile, telephone providers, including local landline operator Lumen Technologies – formerly CenturyLink – have been demanding since Sept.

Local calls to seven-digit numbers will be made until the final changeover on Sunday, October 24th, as Lumen noted in mailings to telephone customers.

On and after Sunday you must dial the area code, or you will receive a message that your call “cannot be completed as dialed,” says Lumen.

Lumen does not expect any problems when switching to 10-digit dialing, said spokesman Mark Molzen.

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