FCC to require 10-digit dialing code for Wisconsin residents beginning Oct. 24

MADISON, Wis. (CBS 58) -- All customers with an area code 262, 414, 608, and 920 will need to dial the area code and telephone number in order to connect their local and long-distance calls beginning Oct. 24.

This will apply to all calls that are currently dialed with seven digits.

Officials say this change comes after the Federal Communications Commissions (FCC) approved 988 as the three-digital abbreviated dialing code to reach the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline starting July 16, 2022. Officials say to ensure 988 calls reach the lifeline, providers in 36 states, including Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, and Michigan, must transition to 10-digit dialing systems.

Calls made on or after Oct. 24 will not be connected with only seven digits. Wisconsin customers with the area codes 543 and 715 already operate with a 10-digital dialing requirement.

According to officials, the 10-digit dialing requirement will not change the following:

  • A customer’s telephone number, including current area code
  • The price of a call, coverage area, or other rates and services
  • A local call will remain a local call regardless of the number of digits dialed
  • Customers will continue to dial 1+ the area code + telephone number for all long-distance calls
  • Customers will continue to dial a prefix (such as “9”) when dialing from a multi-line telephone system (e.g., in a hotel, office building, etc.) as required
  • Customers can still dial three digits to reach 711 (relay services) and 911 (emergency services)
  • If 211, 311, 411, 511, 611, or 811 are currently available in a community, customers can continue to dial these codes with just three digits
  • The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline can still be reached by dialing 1-800-273-TALK(8255) even after the ‘988’ code is in effect.


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