Chairwoman Calls on Wireless Industry and Related Associations to Explore 988 Routing Solutions

Federal Communications Commission Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel encouraged wireless carriers and industry associations to take the necessary steps to identity and develop a 988 georouting solution that could be deployed in wireless networks nationwide. The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is a national network of more than 200 crisis centers that helps thousands of people overcome crisis situations every day. These centers are supported by local and state resources as well as the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. In letters sent to wireless carriers, the Chairwoman asked these groups to identify and develop a 988 georouting solution that could be deployed within a reasonable time. According to mental health and crisis counseling experts, getting the caller to the geographically appropriate local crisis center—known as georouting—can help get life-saving services to those in need of public health and safety resources. Currently when a caller dials 988, the originating service provider conveys the area code and exchange via the caller’s phone number, and the call is then routed to the call center designated to serve that area code and exchange. Over 80% of all calls made to the 988 Lifeline are from wireless phones, and callers often dial 988 from outside the area code associated with their cell phone number. As a result, many wireless callers to 988 are unable to access local resources that they may need in a time of crisis.