Beginning on October 24, all telephone numbers in the 562 area code will be required to dial the full eleven digits of the telephone number being called regardless of whether that number is within the same 562 area code.
The eleven digits include the country prefix (1 for the United States), the area code (562), and the particular telephone number (for example, 493-1500 to reach the office of Orange County Breeze.)
The change is to allow the full implementation of a three-digit nationwide suicide prevention and mental health crisis hotline. That new hotline, 988, is not yet active.
According to the Federal Communication Commission, the timeline for 988 implementation calls for a two-year transition period:
- Beginning October 24, 2021, consumers must dial 10-digits (area code + telephone number) for all local calls. 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. Consumers must hang up and dial again using the area code and the 7-digit number.
- Beginning July 16, 2022, dialing “988” will route calls to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.
All California area codes affected by this change (see map below, colored dark blue) will also require the caller to enter the country prefix (1 for the United States).
If we didn’t need to dial 11 all digits after implementing 911, 411, 611, 311, etc., why on Earth does everyone need to be inconvenienced because of the addition of 988? This is absolutely ridiculous.