New Mexicans need to start dialing 10 digits

[left-of-center2012]

New Mexicans begin adjusting to a new phone dialing system that requires the inclusion of an area code. Though howls of complaints are almost assured, at least early on, there’s a good reason behind the move, said Mike Ripperger, telecom bureau chief for the New Mexico Public Regulation Commission.

In July 2020, the FCC established 988 as a nationwide, three-digit phone number for people in mental crises to connect to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. Starting in July 2022, dialing 988 will route calls to the suicide hotline.
So, for states with communities that have a 988 prefix — which includes New Mexico and 36 others — dialing that number without the area code will connect you to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, which could cause a disruption, Ripperger said.

“Obviously, if they didn’t make this conversation, when trying to dial 988 and reach a friend across town, you will get the suicide hotline,” he said. “That’s what has prompted the FCC to say, ‘OK, that won’t work.’ So we are going to 10-digit dialing for everybody.”

https://www.santafenewmexican.com/news/local_news/new-mexicans-need-to-start-dialing-10-digits/article_37de7e34-3014-11ec-b31c-afe7e48e0846.html

[marble falls]

1. No elegant way to fix it?

[AllaN01Bear]

2. we have to dial the whole thing where i live , example using a fake phone #

to illistrate , 1.209.555.5555 just to call acrross town even though on sonora main. i have a friend whose first late wife was operator and then supervisor for old att , remembers prifex dialing . also do any of you remember dialing # s like edgewood 55? many of us dont remember the hand crank.

[left-of-center2012]

4. Edgewood 55

No, but when I was in junior high school during the late 1950s telephones went to all numbers and we were shown a movie about it.

The example they gave was "Bubbling Brook 55" was going to all numbers.

I lived on a small farm in rural Pennsylvania and we did not have a phone nor did most of our neighbors. This was around 1958. My parents got our first phone around 1961.

After all these years I still remember bubbling brook.

[packman]

7. You brought back a memory

Pennsylvania small town - Our's was Oliver something or another. Oliver1, Oliver 2, etc. for the entire town of around 8,000. My frriends number was Oliver 456. Again , changed to all numbers around the early 1960's.

[El Mimbreno]

5. No crank

But i remember my folks' number CLearbrook 5-4789. Ant the phone belonged to the phone co - Illinois Bell.

[El Mimbreno]

3. OK, my project for today

Go through my contacts on my phone and add area code.

[Abnredleg]

6. 10 digit dialing is increasingly common.

Usually when they run out of numbers in an area code. They did it here when they ran out of numbers in the 336 area code. Instead of splitting the area, and making half of the 336 number holders change, they just overlayed a second area code. Have to dial 10 numbers but it wasn’t a big deal.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Overlay_plan

[left-of-center2012]

8. Ok, this is weird

I just checked the phone numbers on my cell phone and they already have the area codes added.

I did not do that.
I guess somehow my cell phone updated it.