988 Deadline Unchanged; Some Commissioners Not Worried
The FCC didn't budge on an implementation deadline that telecom interests said couldn't be met. The commission's 988 suicide prevention hotline order approved unanimously Thursday tried to mitigate some problems they face, Commissioner Mike O'Rielly said. No change to the two-year deadline was expected (see 2007150058) Telecoms argued universal implementation by that deadline is impossible (see 2006230022). Some commissioners disagreed.
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It's "an aggressive and attainable timetable," Commissioner Brendan Carr said. Asked by us during a news briefing, how the FCC might view a waiver request, he said it would "take a pretty detailed factual showing" and he doesn't anticipate there being any. Chairman Ajit Pai said requiring a uniform implementation date instead of a phased-in one means no potentially deadly consumer confusion. He said the rising suicide rates in the U.S. mean "the scope of that problem requires a matching sense of urgency for the FCC." He said he's "optimistic" everyone will meet the deadline. Commissioners noted 988 won’t be activated immediately.
Moving to 10-digit dialing in some cases "may not be possible" in two years, O'Rielly said. He said the approved order, which wasn't released, set a deadline for the North American numbering plan administrator that "should help in moving the process along." He said the approved order's "softened" language acknowledges the implementation challenges of telcos.
Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel approved of the draft order but said it should have been more ambitious, incorporating rules about texting given how primary a communications medium that is for teens. Commissioner Geoffrey Starks said providers in some regions have challenges, but it's more important to get what should be a life-saving service implemented.
Telecoms have a July 16, 2022, deadline to set up 988 so calls made to that number are routed on the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline currently reached by dialing 800-273-8255.
The FCC took "a vital step forward that will increase accessibility of support services for individuals experiencing mental health distress," said Vibrant Emotional Health, administrator of the Lifeline: "It will help save to lives." The next step is congressional approval of the National Suicide Hotline Designation Act (HR-4194), "which will provide the funding mechanism, authority and infrastructure needed to make 988 available across the country," the administrator said. "For more than 50 years, the nation has benefited enormously from universal, simple access to emergency response; suicide-related calls should be no different," said the National Emergency Number Association.
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration Assistant Secretary-Mental Health and Substance Use Elinore McCance-Katz said Lifeline call volume is expected to increase with the three-digit calling option. For people in crisis, "The last thing we want is the stress of having to remember a long phone number," she said.
Asked about meeting the two-year timeline, USTelecom didn't comment. It said in a statement its members "are proud to play a part in establishing a 3-digit dialing code for the national suicide prevention and mental health crisis hotline in our country. We are committed to getting 988 up and running as quickly as possible." CenturyLink emailed that the challenges it previously flagged to the FCC (see 2007100016) remain, and after seeing the final order, it will "evaluate the situation going forward."