NANC Hears Recommendation on 988 Hotline During Final 2020 Meeting

About 83 area codes will need to transition to obtain access to the 988 suicide prevention hotline, said the FCC North American Numbering Council Thursday at its final meeting for 2020. Monthly reports will now include the status of the 988 hotline implementation. Tim Kagele, co-chair of North American Portability Management, said the goal is to address potential conflicts where 988 may be the first three digits of a number. One call participant suggested the FCC consider establishing a national 10-digit number for the 988 hotline. NANC will provide input in Q1 2021 on the feasibility and costs of including an automatic dispatch location of a 988 call.