Ready, and get set to dial all 10 in 2021

The Missouri Public Service Commission has opened a case at the request of the Public Service Commission Staff to assist Staff regarding an order from the
Federal Communications Commission requiring ten-digit local dialing in four of Missouri’s six area codes by July 15, 2022.

The change to ten-digit local dialing is necessary to allow for the establishment of “988” as a three-digit code to reach a national suicide prevention and mental health crisis hotline. To avoid conflict with the new 988 code, all United States area codes that use a 988 NPA prefix must move to ten-digit local dialing. In Missouri, the affected area codes are 314, 417, 600, and 816. Beginning April 24, 2021, those customers should start dialing 10 digits, meaning the area code plus the telephone number for all local calls. If you forget and dial just 7-digits, your call will still be completed, but beginning October 24th, 2021 you must dial the area code and phone number or your call won’t be completed, and you will get a message telling you to hang up and dial all 10 numbers.