Area Code Dialing to be Required

Michiganders in the 616, 810, 906 and 989 area codes will have to use those area codes when dialing even for local calls starting on October 24 this year, the Michigan Public Service Commission recently announced. However, callers are urged to start dialing all 10 digits beginning April 24 to get used to the new requirement. People who dial only seven digits will still be connected during this “permissive dialing period.” However, on October 24, the change becomes official, and local calls dialed with only seven digits may not be completed. The reason for the change is that 988 has been designated by the federal government as the abbreviated three-digit code to reach the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. Any area code that includes the 988 prefix must transition from seven-digit dialing to 10-digit dialing. Customers in other Michigan area codes aren’t affected by these changes at this time.