The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has taken a significant step to improve access to crisis intervention services by passing rules that will require all wireless calls to the 988 Lifeline to be georouted. Georouting ensures that calls to the National Suicide Prevention Hotline are directed to the nearest available resource, rather than being routed to the caller’s area code and exchange.
Under the new rules, national providers will have 30 days to implement georouting for 988 calls, while smaller, non-national providers have 24 months to comply. The FCC has also proposed extending the georouting policy to texts sent to 988, which would require carriers to direct these messages to the nearest available resource.
This move is part of the FCC’s ongoing efforts to expand the reach and effectiveness of the 988 Lifeline, which was established in 2020 as a shortcut for reaching the National Suicide Prevention Hotline. In 2021, the agency further expanded the service to include mental health resources. T-Mobile was among the telecoms that quickly activated 988 for its customers, allowing them to access critical mental health services.
By georouting 988 calls, the FCC aims to reduce response times and improve the overall effectiveness of the crisis intervention service. This move is part of a broader effort to ensure that Americans have access to the mental health resources they need, particularly in rural and underserved areas where resources may be scarce. The FCC will continue to work with carriers and other stakeholders to implement these new rules and ensure that the 988 Lifeline is available to those who need it most.
The FCC’s proposal to extend georouting to texts sent to 988 is also seen as a crucial step in improving the reach and accessibility of the service. By allowing texts to be directed to the nearest available resource, the FCC aims to make it easier for people to seek help when they need it most.
