New ten-digit dialing does not apply to 9-1-1
For immediate release—August 10, 2001
Vancouver - E-Comm, the regional 9-1-1 call centre for the Greater Vancouver Regional District, together with TELUS, is reminding the public that 9-1-1 is not among the phone numbers that will be impacted by ten-digit dialing.
Beginning Saturday, August 11, 2001 Lower Mainland residents who dial seven digits for local calls will be prompted by a recorded message to add the area code to the number they are dialing the next time they call. The message will help prepare residents for when ten-digit dialing becomes mandatory in the Greater Vancouver Regional District, Mission and Abbotsford on November 3, 2001. The change is necessary because an increased number of cell phones, fax and Internet lines are causing a shortage of available phone numbers.
However, ten-digit dialing does not apply to 9-1-1 emergency communications.
"If anyone needs emergency assistance they should dial 9-1-1 as they always have," said Russ Sanderson, E-Comm operations manager. "9-1-1 does not require an area code."
"We would also remind residents not to program 9-1-1 into their cell or residential phones," added Sanderson. "It takes half-a-second to dial 9-1-1 so it's not necessary for it to be pre-programmed. The number of calls our operators receive that are dialed by accident is staggering."
Sanderson estimates that of the 3,500 to 4,500 9-1-1 calls E-Comm receives each day, half come from cell phones. Of those, more than half are "dropped calls," that is, there is no one on the line when the operator answers. Sanderson said that many cell phone users do not realize that some cell phones come from the manufacturer with a pre-programmed 9-1-1 function that can be accidentally depressed if the phone's key-guard is not used. Cell phones should always be kept in the "locked mode" to prevent this from happening. Check with your cell phone provider for instructions on how to use the key-guard.
For more information contact:
Jody Robertson
E-Comm
Public Relations/Communication
604-215-4956 (Direct Line)
604-640-1342 (Pager)