Local Calling Changes Take Effect on Sunday

Friday, October 22nd, 2021 -- 9:01 AM

(Bob Hague, WRN) Beginning this Sunday, you’ll need to include your own area code when making a phone call.

The Federal Communications Commissions has approved "988" to reach the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. But, says Madison College Information Security Architect Jesse La Grew. “It’s largely because we’re running out of phone numbers.”

If you’re making most calls straight from your cellphone’s address book, you may barely notice the extra digits. And La Grew says more digits may be in our phone calling futures

“It could be in five to ten years, we might have to type in thirteen digits, just due to have more people, jut due to having more people that need phone numbers.”

Wisconsin is among 36 states making the ten digit transition, to make sure calls reach the “988” line. Dialing “988” will route calls to the Suicide Prevention line, effective July 16, 2022.

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