35 States Have Frustrating New Phone Rule – BUT NOT 307

I was driving my sister and brother-in-law around Wyoming when she finally asked the question; "What's 307? I see it all over the place."

She was a little surprised to learn that 307 was the area code for the entire state of Wyoming. We just don't have that many people.

Some of those more heavily populated states now have something extra they will have to do when they make a call.

Thirty-five states and one U.S. territory will be transitioning to 10-digit dialing on Sunday.

So before they dial they will have to punch in the 3 digit area code of the person they are calling, then the number. WOW - like - all 10 numbers DUDE! What a hassle. 

I grew up on a tropical island. Our population was so small I only had to dial the last 4 numbers of any island phone number. That changed when enough people moved out there. Now - GASP! - folks out there have to dial all 7 numbers, but still not the area code.

What is happening in these OVERLY POPULATED STATES, is a plan by the FCC to make room for some more important numbers. Actually, life-saving numbers. Here is how it will work.

The FCC is setting up a nationwide three-digit National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.

Launching July 16, 2022, callers can be connected to suicide prevention and mental health counselors by dialing "988."

"To help facilitate the creation of "988", area codes that use "988" as a local exchange, or the first three digits of a seven-digit phone number, will need to use 10-digit dialing," the FCC said.

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Add this to the long list of reasons you love living in Wyoming. GOSH, you don't have to wear your fingers out dialing a few extra numbers.

In most cases, I just talk to my phone and tell it who to call and it does it for me, so I don't see any problem here.