October 2024 Open Meeting Agenda

Establishing 988 as the easy-to-remember 3-digit number for the national Suicide and Crisis Lifeline has been a game changer for mental health services in America. Since the 988 Lifeline went live in July 2022, more than 10 million calls, texts, and chats from people looking for help have been answered. Yesterday, I joined with Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra to highlight a major step to make this resource even more effective. Last week, our country's largest wireless carriers began phasing out the old system of routing 988 calls, which was based on the area code and prefix of your phone number, regardless of your actual location. They are replacing it with a system that uses so-called "georouting" technology to make sure wireless 988 callers are connected with counselors in their local community. The Commission's October meeting will be headlined by a proposal to build on progress and make sure everyone contacting 988 can get the help they need where they need it, while also protecting the privacy of those who reach out in confidence. Here's everything we have lined up for our October meeting.

• We're improving access to life-saving services. People who contact the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline report better outcomes when they are connected with local counselors who are better suited to connect the caller with support services in their community. The Commission will consider rules to require all U.S. wireless carriers to implement "georouting" technology to make sure 988 callers are connected with crisis contact centers near their physical location, not based on their area code.
• We're making smartphones more accessible to consumers with hearing loss. The Commission will consider rules establishing that 100% of wireless handsets must be compatible with hearing aids. After a reasonable phase-in period, the 48 million Americans with hearing loss will be able to choose among that same mobile phone models that are available to all consumers.
• We will consider an adjudicatory matter from our Media Bureau.

- Jessica