SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — State utility regulators say New Mexico in late April will start a six-month transition period to prepare telephone callers for when they’ll have to include an area code when making local calls.
Starting April 24, callers can start using 10-digit dialing for telephone calls within the state. The Public Regulation Commission said the permissive transition period will lead up to Oct. 24 when 10-digit dialing will become mandatory.
The switch is a result of a federal plan to implement a new three-digit number — 9-8-8 — for the National Suicide Prevention Hotline. And that will make 10-digit dialing mandatory for all local calls in New Mexico because some customers’ phone numbers start with 988.