IF YOUR CALLS ARE NOT COMPLETING, PLEASE LISTEN TO THE VOICE RECORDING AND FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS.
Beginning this Sunday, October 24, 2021, all customers with numbers in the 406 area code, and 81 other area codes around the nation, must begin dialing 10 digits (area code + telephone number) for all LOCAL calls. On and after this date, local calls dialed with only seven digits may not be completed, and a recording will inform you to “Please use the area code when dialing this number.” If you get this recording, you must hang up and dial again using the area code plus the seven-digit telephone number. This can include calls to your neighbor across the street, or calls to any other Mid-Rivers number, or numbers included in other local Extended Area Service (EAS) arrangements.
You may also hear a recording if you do not dial a “1” on Long Distance calls. If you hear “Please dial a 1 when using this number,” it is a Long Distance call, and you need to hang up and dial again using 1+ the area code and number.
The various EAS calling areas in place, such as toll free calling between Mid-Rivers numbers, Musselshell EAS into Billings, EAS with certain wireless carriers, and others, are all considered local calls that will only require 10 digits (no “1”). If you hear the recording “Please do not dial a 1 with this number,” the call is NOT long distance, and you should hang up and dial again using only 10 digits (no “1”).
If your calls are still not completing after following the voice instructions, please contact us. It will be very helpful if you can tell us the date and time of the call(s), the number(s) you are dialing, the message you are hearing, and whether you are having trouble calling other numbers.
Learn more about why 10 digit local dialing is now required at https://www.fcc.gov/suicide-prevention-hotline.
