Telecommunications Information Notice 21-01 Pending Change to Local Dialing for 504 and 337 Area Codes; New Three-Digit Number for Suicide Prevention and Mental Health Crisis Hotline (UPDATE)

February 16, 2022

​​The Federal Communications Commission has established “988” as the new, nationwide three-digit number to reach the national suicide prevention and mental health hotline. The number will go into effect on July 16, 2022. In preparation for this service, 10-digit local dialing has  become mandatory in areas that include “988” as a telephone prefix. In Louisiana, this impacts the 504 and 337 area codes.

Beginning April 24, 2021, 10-digit dialing replaced 7-digit dialing for local calls in the 504 and 337 area codes. Beginning October 24, 2021, local calls dialed with only 7 digits may not be completed. Calls may reach a recording indicating the call cannot be completed as dialed.

Dialing Instructions and Centrex Dialing Instructions published online have been updated in to reflect this change.

Note the following services will remain unchanged:

• Centrex-to-Centrex abbreviated dialing (five-digit dialing)
• HVS-to-HVS dialing (seven or ten-digit)

Systems and services which are programmed to complete calls to local numbers may be affected by this change. Agencies are reminded to review and update items including but not limited to:

• Speed dial keys
• Call forward settings
• Voice mail services
• Wireless telephone contact lists
• Autodialers
• Fax machines
• Alarm systems
• Monitoring systems
• Key systems
• PBXs
• Other systems or services

Agencies with on-site communications systems may have heard from the system administrator/vendor regarding updates. If an agency with a key system (Executone, Avaya, etc.) or PBX (Avaya, Carousel, etc.) has not been contacted, the Office of Technology Services recommends the agency contact the system administrator/vendor.

Questions regarding this notice should be directed to Systems Projects at 225.342.9104.