Mandatory ten-digit dialing begins in Alaska on October 24th

Lately, many people making phone calls have been hearing this message before the call goes through.

“Please be aware that mandatory ten-digit dialing begins October 24^th. From that date on, you will be required by FCC directive to use an area code when dialing, even for local calls.”

Some KTNA listeners have asked us why this is happening.

The answer is over a year old, but is just now coming into effect.  Last June, the Federal Communication Commission adopted an order to designate ‘988’ as an abbreviated dialing method for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.  As a result, any area code that uses 988 as a prefix for dialing will have to switch to dialing the area code as well. A phone number’s prefix is the first three digits of a seven digit phone number, like 733 or 495 in the Northern Valley.

Multiple three-digit codes already exist, like 911, 511, and 411, but those digits did were not already in use as phone number prefixes in Alaska.

In addition to manual dialing, settings on devices like telemedicine monitors, burglar and fire alarms, and voicemail services may need to be adjusted to continue functioning after October 24^th.

The Regulatory Commission of Alaska states on its website that no phone numbers will be changed as a result of the new rules, and what counts as a local versus long-distance call will remain the same. 

The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline’s existing number of 1-800-273-TALK will continue to function after October 24^th.