To make calls beginning Sunday, callers from nine California area codes must dial 10 digits. (Jenny Kane / Associated Press).
Callers in nine California areas codes, including Pasadena and Palo Alto will have to dial 10-digit numbers when making calls starting Sunday.
These changes will impact thousands of Californians. They are a result of federal rules that make it easier for callers reach crisis resources.
To complete their connection, callers with a 988 exchange code or "central office" number will need to dial the first three numbers from a seven-digit number, then the rest of the digits.
In July 2020, the Federal Communications Commission ordered the change and established 988 as the national three-digit number for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. To facilitate the transition, 82 area code numbers across the United States will switch to 10-digit dialing.
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline calls 800.272-8255 for access to a wide network of 180 crisis centers across the country.
The FCC states that the changes will allow for universal deployment of 988. This will reduce stigma around suicide and mental health crises, and ultimately save lives.
California's area codes will change to 10-digit dialing when the following are used:
209: Stockton and Modesto, as well as the surrounding areas
530: Northern California Regions, including Shasta Cascade, Sacramento Valley and northern Sierra Nevada
562: Long Beach, Orange County and the surrounding areas
626: Most of the San Gabriel Valley, Pasadena and its surrounding areas.
650: Most of San Mateo County and Santa Clara County, including Palo Alto
707: The north coast, including Santa Rosa and Napa, Vallejo
925: Areas in the East Bay, Alameda County and Parts of Alameda County
949: Southern Orange County
951: Parts of Riverside and San Bernardino Counties
For calls to local numbers, residents who live in these area codes will need to dial all 10 digits. A call made with seven digits or less will not be answered. Users will be asked to hang up and dial the correct 10-digit format again.
Continue the story
Callers may also be required to manually add 1 before the 3-digit area code. This applies to both wired and landlines. The majority of cellphones add a 1 to the dialed area codes automatically.
The change will take effect on Saturday, but the dialing shortcut to the lifeline won't go into effect until July 16. Callers who dial 988 at that time will be automatically directed to the suicide prevention hotline.
This story first appeared in Los Angeles Times.
