Calls to the 859 area code, which services Lexington and several central Kentucky counties, including Jessamine, will now require dialing all ten digits instead of just the seven digits.
The three-digit 859 is one of many area codes making the switch to ten-digit dialing, which has been prompted to facilitate the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline’s new three-digit 988 number, established in 2020. As of Oct. 24, the change will prevent the three-digit number from being confused with the existing 988 area codes and extensions.
“The new three-digit dialing code will be available nationwide by July 16, 2022, and will provide an easy to remember and easy to dial three-digit number to reach suicide prevention and mental health counselors, similar to ‘911’ for emergencies and ‘311’ for local government services,” the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) said on its website.
The FCC also states that the change stems from realizing that there are now more phones than people, each requiring a unique phone number. Some areas have had to add second area codes to facilitate the amount of numbers they service.
“Dialing both the area code and the seven-digit number was necessary to ensure the call reached the intended recipient,” the FCC’s statement continues. “As more area codes begin to run out of new seven-digit numbers to assign, a second local area code may be added, requiring that area to transition to ten-digit dialing.”
The 859 area code is one 82 area code that switched to ten-digit dialing on Oct. 24.
“Local calls dialed with only seven digits may not connect, and a recording will inform you that your call cannot be completed as dialed,” said the FCC. “You must hang up and dial again using the area code and the seven-digit number.”
