FCC Proposal for 988 National Suicide Hotline Implementation
FCC is moving towards implementing the 988 National Suicide Hotline by July 16, 2022. The proposal includes requiring text providers to support text messaging to 988, defining text messages covered, and setting a nationwide implementation deadline. Technical considerations like text routing and bounce-back messaging are also addressed.
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North American Numbering Council 988 National Suicide Hotline Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking Overview Emily Caditz Attorney Advisor Federal Communications Commission Wireline Competition Bureau April 15, 2021
Overview The FCC has designated 988 for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, to be available July 16, 2022. 988 is not active nationwide. If you want to call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, call 1-800-273- TALK. - However, some carriers, mostly wireless, have already implemented it. This presentation will cover: - Text-to-988 s background; - The Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking; and - Next steps. 2
Background Text messaging is a popular mode of communication, particularly with groups that are at heightened risk of suicide or mental health crises, including teenagers and young adults and individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing, deafblind, or speech disabled. Currently, the Lifeline offers a 24/7 online chat service and has soft-launched texting service to respond to texts sent to 1-800-273-8255 (TALK). The Veterans Crisis Line responds to texts sent to a six-digit short code (838-255) and via online chat. 3
Text-to-988 Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking On April 22, the Commission will consider a Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (Further Notice) that, if adopted, would propose to require covered text providers to support text messaging to 988. The Further Notice proposes and/or seeks comment on issues regarding text routing, defining the providers and text messages covered under possible text-to-988 rules, the implementation deadline for possible text-to- 988 rules, technical considerations for providers to implement texting to 988, bounce-back messaging, and others. 4
Text Routing, Text Messages That Must be Supported, and the Implementation Deadline Propose and seek comment on requiring covered text providers to support text messaging to 988 by routing text messages to the Lifeline s current 10-digit number. Propose and seek comment on establishing definitions of 988 text message and covered 988 text message. Seek comment on and propose adopting a uniform nationwide implementation deadline for all covered text providers and covered 988 text messages. 5
Technical considerations, Bounce-back messaging, and Other Issues Seek comment on the specific technical considerations that are necessary to implement texting to 988. Seek comment on whether and in what circumstances to require covered text providers to send automatic bounce-back messages to consumers. Propose to direct the Wireline Competition Bureau to continue to coordinate the implementation of 988 with the Commission s federal partners, and seeks comment on other issues, including the Commission s legal authority and cost recovery. 6
Next Steps If adopted, the Commission will receive comments in response to the Text-to-988 further Notice in May/June. We will then evaluate the record. 7
Questions/Contacts/Links Emily Caditz Federal Communications Commission Attorney Advisor 202.418.2268 Emily.Caditz@fcc.gov Links: Further Notice https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DOC-371279A1.pdf 8
