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PSC completes step toward 988 suicide prevention hotline

BISMARCK – The North Dakota Public Service Commission reported Wednesday that it has preserved seven-digit dialing in the state while completing an important step toward the implementation of 988 as the national suicide prevention hotline number.

Through collaboration between the PSC and telecommunications companies, the 988 prefix is no longer being used in any North Dakota phone numbers, ensuring a smooth transition for that number to be used as a suicide prevention hotline number.

In July 2020, the Federal Communications Commission issued an order requiring the three-digit number of 988 be activated nationwide as a suicide prevention hotline. The FCC’s order requires that any area code utilizing the 988 prefix must transition to 10-digit dialing for that entire area code. In North Dakota, that would have meant the entire state would have to dial 701 before dialing any phone number. This includes land lines and cell phones, even when making local calls.

After investigating, the PSC found the 988 prefix was being used in only 33 North Dakota phone numbers between three different telecommunications providers. PSC staff worked with those companies and was able to transition all 33 of the numbers to a different prefix, clearing North Dakota from the list required to transition to 10-digit dialing.

“We know North Dakotans value the convenience of seven-digit dialing and we exerted extensive efforts to preserve it,” said Commissioner Randy Christmann, who holds the telecommunications portfolio. “I am thankful for our great staff and for the cooperation of the companies and customers who made it possible.”

All telecommunication carriers, and Voice over IP service providers, will be required to implement the new number nationwide by July 16, 2022, but carriers may activate the number at any point between now and that deadline. A caller dialing 988 will be automatically routed to 800-273-8255 (TALK), which is the national suicide prevention lifeline. The lifeline consists of a network of about 170 crisis centers around the country.

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