Alaskans should get used to dialing 907 when placing local calls.
The new dialing procedure requires people placing local calls to include the area code when dialing — even in Alaska. The change is in response to a vote by the Federal Communications Commission to adopt “988” as the number Americans can call to reach the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline hotline.
According to the Regulatory Commission of Alaska, 988 has been assigned to customers in Alaska, which may cause problems when people try to call 988.
It is recommended that Alaskans begin dialing 907 at the beginning of local calls beginning on April 24. The change will become required on Oct. 24. After that, local calls placed without an area code will not be completed and a recording will instruct the caller to hang up and dial the number with an area code.
All other equipment that use seven-digit numbers to make local calls — such as fax machines, medical monitoring devices and call-forwarding settings — will also need to be updated with 10-digit numbers.
Individuals’ phone numbers will not change.
More information about the change can be found at fcc.gov.
Reach reporter Ashlyn O’Hara at ashlyn.ohara@peninsulaclarion.com.
