N11 code

An N11 code or N11 number (said as "N-one-one") is a special abbreviated dialing telephone number within the North American Numbering Plan, which allows access to special services. Each of these eight numbers prevents 10,000 telephone numbers (from N11-0000 to N11-9999) from being used. Only non-geographic area codes, such as toll-free 800/888/877/866/855 numbers and 900 numbers may use N11 as the telephone exchange prefix, since the area code must always be dialed for these numbers.

Usage is generally assigned as follows:

• 2-1-1: community services, United Way
• 3-1-1: municipal government services, non-emergency
• 4-1-1: directory assistance
• 5-1-1: traffic information or police non-emergency services
• 6-1-1: telephone company (telco) customer service and repair
• 7-1-1: TDD relay for the deaf
• 8-1-1: underground public utility location,^[1] in Canada 8-1-1 is assigned for non-emergency health information and services
• 9-1-1: emergency services

9-1-1 and 4-1-1 work from nearly every telephone in the U.S. and Canada, while the others vary from place to place. Generally, only 4-1-1 calls incur a toll. 9-1-1 access is mandated by law, even on lines with no service (a "soft" dial tone). 6-1-1 (formerly 8-1-1) may also be accessible to activate service on such lines, and 3-1-1 may be available as well for urgent (but non-emergency) calls to police, or any call to local government in some places.

Other community services are provided through 2-1-1, but only if a non-profit organization such as the United Way operates it locally. Likewise, local or state/provincial government may or may not operate traffic information through 5-1-1. 8-1-1 was made mandatory in the U.S. in 2007, as is 7-1-1. Unlike 9-1-1, these may or may not be available on a phone without paid service.

0-1-1 followed by a country code is used to dial internationally, but this use is not considered an N11 code. 1-1-1 is not available in the NANP, because 11 is the prefix used to access vertical service codes from rotary phones, and is essentially meaningless to the system otherwise.

References

External links

• USA.gov FAQ on Use of N11 Service Codes
• NANPA N11 Codes Assignment
• Administered N11 Codes in Canada
• N11 as Regulated and Implemented in Washington State
• The N11 Service Directory of California