<p>INDIANAPOLIS — Callers in northern Indiana’s 219 and 574 telephone area codes will soon be required to dial with 10 digits, rather than seven, when making local phone calls.</p>
<p>Beginning April 24, callers in the 219 or 574 area codes should use 10 digits whenever placing local calls. Seven-digit dialing will still be completed until Oct. 24 to give people time to adjust to the new dialing pattern and make any required system changes before 10-digit dialing becomes mandatory.</p>
<p>But after Oct. 24, calls without 10 digits will not be completed in the two area codes.</p>
<p>The change to 10-digit calling is necessary to accommodate the national “988” National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, according to the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission. </p>
<p>All telecommunications providers in the United States are required to implement the three-digit 9-8-8 dialing code for the hotline by July 16, 2022. Under an order issued by the Federal Communications Commission, 10-digit dialing must be in place before then for any area code with a “988” prefix.</p>
