"988" Text Requirement Waiver Granted

As a follow-on to our May 3, 2022 client memo, on May 11 the FCC waived the July 16, 2022 deadline for text-to-988 connections to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (1-800-273-8255) to allow routing without translation to the access number. Until further notice, commercial mobile radio service and all interconnected text messaging services providers may now use short code protocol to route messages to the Lifeline access number.

July 16, 2022 is still the deadline for covered providers to make network changes to ensure that users can dial and/or text the dialing code “988” to reach the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.

For more information about the Commission’s 988 rules or implementation, please contact an attorney in our Broadband, Spectrum, and Communications Infrastructure Practice Group