Older Dialers Could Require Reprogramming or Replacement in 82 Area Codes
Security dealers with customers in 82 area codes in 36 states may need to reprogram any older digital dialers or medical alerts by October 24, 2021. Beginning on that date, all consumers and devices with numbers in the affected area codes must dial 10-digits (area code + telephone number or 1 + area code + telephone number in California and parts of Illinois) for all local calls.
On and after that date, local calls dialed with only seven digits may not be completed and a recording may inform callers that their calls cannot be completed as dialed. Callers getting this recording must hang up and dial again using 10- or 11-digit dialing.
The change is being made to enable callers to dial 9-8-8 to reach the newly established Suicide Prevention Hotline.
Many central stations already are reached via 10-digit dialing, in which case no changes are required to equipment programmed to reach the central station. But some older equipment may require a change.
If so, this is an opportunity to upgrade affected customers to more modern equipment, including equipment that works over a cellular or IP connection and therefore doesn’t need a phone line. Another advantage of making that change is that equipment that used IP or cellular communications also supports interactive services, enabling customers to remotely view and control their systems.
Additional information and a chart showing the area codes affected by state can be found in this Somos press release.
SES is a full-service security hardware distributor that has 13 fully stocked branches across the U.S. and a dedicated team of account representatives ready to assist you with all your security and other electronic equipment needs.