Mandatory 10-digit phone dialing to start within 516 area code

Dial "T" for "Tedious."

With the expansion starting Sunday, Oct. 24 of universal 10-digit (and, depending on your carrier, 11-digit) dialing to cover calls made within Nassau County's area code, 516, Robert Wolfe of North Woodmere must update his speed-dialing presets — and also check his burglar alarm.

In the nearly 50 years he has lived in Nassau, calls made from one 516 number to another have needed only the seven-digit phone number for the call to be completed. Now, the speed-dial numbers of 20 or 30 friends, family and neighbors who have 516 numbers might not connect anymore without 10 digits.

"Now I’m going to have to program the new 516," said Wolfe, 75, a retired veterinarian, noting that he hasn’t memorized a phone number in years, except perhaps his own and his wife’s.

So it is that Wolfe, who uses Altice's Optimum for home phone service, will need to go through all the numbers programmed into the phone, identify 516 numbers, and add those three crucial digits: 5, 1 and 6.

In many places, including Suffolk County, dialing 10 digits has been required since June 18, 2016, with the debut of the 934 area code for Suffolk, in addition to 631.

What’s changing and why?

By July 16, 2022, dialing "988" must connect the caller to a suicide-prevention hotline, under rules adopted July 16, 2020, by the Federal Communications Commission. (The "988" hotline joins other three-digit hotlines, such as "911" for emergencies, "411" for directory information and "311" in some localities for municipal services.) The "988" line, the FCC argues in its order, means "easing access to suicide prevention and crisis intervention services, decreasing the stigma surrounding suicide and mental health crises, and ultimately saving lives."

Requiring the use of area codes prevents callers intending to reach a seven-digit phone number with the prefix "988" from being mistakenly transferred to the suicide-prevention hotline.

Beyond phones, what other devices are affected by the changeover?

Any device that uses the phone to communicate, including life-safety systems, fax machines, voicemail, call-forwarding services, burglar alarms, door buzzers, gates, and voicemail. Some of these devices might already be programmed to call out with an area code, but you should check yourself or with the provider.

Must I use 10 digits (area code + phone number) or 11 digits (1 + area code + phone number)?

That depends on your carrier. Altice's Optimum phone systems recognize calls dialed with either 10 or 11 digits, according to Janet Meahan, an Altice spokeswoman. But Richard J. Young, a Verizon spokesman, says 11 digits (1 + area code + phone number) should be dialed on that company’s systems, regardless of whether you’ve got a VoIP phone or a more-traditional phone line. (Cellphones do not require dialing 1.)

What happens if I dial just the seven digits of a phone number?

You might get an error recording saying the call can’t be completed as dialed and to try again.

Haven’t I been able to dial the full number already?

Yes, since April 24 for most carriers, callers within 516 could dial with or without area code.

What are some of the area codes joining 516 in the new policy?

The change is taking effect for certain area codes in at least 35 states, including Michigan, Kentucky, California and Hawaii. Locally, affected area codes include 607 (the Southern Tier, which includes Binghamton), 716 (the Buffalo area), 845 (the Hudson Valley) and 914 (Westchester). In total, there are about 82 places getting mandatory 10-digit dialing on Sunday.

In how much of the United States is seven-digit dialing within an area code still permitted?

About half the area codes nationwide still allowed seven-digit dialing as of December 2020.

By Matthew Chayes

matthew.chayes@newsday.comchayesmatthew

Matthew Chayes, a Newsday reporter since 2007, covers New York City.