Coming FCC 988-to-Text Plan Gets Mental Health, Disability Backing
Mental health and disability interests so far back an FCC move toward making carriers enable texting to the 988 nationwide suicide hotline. This Further NPRM will be on the April 22 commissioners' meeting agenda (see 2103310030). So will drafts on dedicated space launch spectrum and sponsorship ID requirements for broadcast time leased by foreign governments (see 2103310050).
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The FCC said the FNPRM will also seek comment on the types of texts that would be supported, adoption of a nationwide implementation deadline for covered text providers and whether to require text providers to send automatic bounce-back messages when text-to-988 service is unavailable. Advocates for the disabled and for suicide hotlines said in interviews that there's demand for texting, not just calling, 988. “We have a mental health crisis in this country, especially among young people, and we need to find accessible ways to reach them when they need help,” said acting Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel. “From the outset of this proceeding, I’ve thought the FCC should have a plan to make texting to 988 available as a tool for reaching the Lifeline."
In the 988 order adopted 5-0 in July (see 2007160030), the FCC concurred with Crisis Text Line (CTL) and CTIA that a text-to-988 capability requirement "would be premature," with Lifeline lacking an integrated text service. Though then-Commissioner Rosenworcel backed the order, she said at the time that the order should have incorporated rules about texting. The order requires that, effective July 16, 2022, carriers route all 988 calls to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.
Moving now to require text-to-988 capabilities would guarantee that the hearing impaired "can promptly receive help in a manner they are very accustomed to -- texting," said Telecommunications for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing CEO Eric Kaika. In crises, going through a third-party relay service "can be an untimely process," he said. Requiring a text-to-988 capability would be "an incredibly important advance [toward] meeting people where they are," said Angela Kimball, National Alliance on Mental Illness national director-advocacy and public policy. The National Association of the Deaf hopes the FCC takes up NAD's request that deaf and hard of hearing people who use American Sign Language have a way of contacting 988 and communicating with counselors who know ASL. "The technology exists to make this happen," it said.
Interim CEO Dena Trujillo said CTL changed its stance on texting and supports the FCC move. Asked whether Lifeline can handle texts, she said that "things are in an exploration standpoint." Lifeline operator Vibrant Emotional Health didn't comment. In December, it said in docket 18-336 that it provides texting with counselors as an option and "has the capability to receive text-to-988 messages on the first day of 988 implementation."
Becky Stoll, American Association of Suicidology crisis center division chair, said the Lifeline network can take texts through the PureConnect contact center platform it employs. The capability "is there," though having the funding to enable the staffing to handle the texts can be a challenge, she said. Trujillo said CTL receives about 4,000 texts a day, and most major carriers waive SMS texting fees.
USTelecom, CTIA and the Competitive Carriers Association didn't comment or declined to comment.