Phone numbers in area codes 530 and 775 will need 10-digits dialing starting Sunday

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Things are about to change in the way we dial telephone numbers with 530 and 775 area codes. In order to add "988" as a national suicide hotline, all areas in the country that had a prefix of 988 will have to change to a 10-digit requirement on all local calls starting Sunday.

We are not alone. There are 79 other area codes in 35 states and one U.S. territory that currently use "988" as their local exchange and allow seven-digit dialing. A local exchange, also known as a central office code, is the first three numbers of a seven-digit telephone number. To prepare for implementation of a quick way to dial the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline – using only "988" to connect callers to the Lifeline – these area codes must transition to ten-digit dialing for all calls, including local calls. The Lifeline three-digit number will not be available though until summer 2022.

Northern Nevada, South Lake Tahoe and the rest of El Dorado County will be affected. Starting October 24, 2021, you must dial ten digits (area code + telephone number) for all local calls. On and after this date, local calls dialed with only seven digits may not connect, and a recording will inform you that your call cannot be completed as dialed. You must hang up and dial again using the area code and the seven-digit number.

Besides 530, in California, area codes 209, 562, 626, 650, 707, 925, 949, 951 are affected. In Nevada, 775 numbers will now require 10-digit dialing. (A full list of those affected, see HERE).

A ten-digit dialed telephone call requires entering both the three-digit area code and the seven-digit telephone number to complete the call, even if the area code is the same area code as your own. When an area code transitions to ten-digit dialing, you will no longer be able to dial seven digits to make a local call.

Most phone numbers in our texting network already have the area code in our directories, along with a 1-. Those will not have to change.

There are several examples of equipment and everyday items that may need to be reprogrammed to include the full 10 digit number: life safety systems or medical monitoring devices, PBXs, fax machines, internet dial-up numbers, fire or burglar alarms, security systems or gates, speed dialers, mobile or other wireless phone contact lists, call forwarding settings, voicemail services and other similar functions. Also 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.

According to the Federal Communication Commission (FCC), if your company uses a PBX or VoIP phone system, you may need to update or reprogram it for ten-digit dialing. Because ten-digit dialing has been available in April 2021 in the areas where seven-digit dialing will be phased out, these systems may have already been repgrammed.

Transitioning to ten-digit dialing will not affect your current telephone number. Your phone number, including your area code, will not change. In California and in Illinois area code 708, you may be required to dial the number "1" before the area code and seven-digit phone number for local calls.

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. 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.