N11 code

For other uses, see N11 (disambiguation).

This U.S. road sign alerts highway users to the availability of 9-1-1 service.

An N11 code (N-one-one) is a three-digit telephone number used in abbreviated dialing in some telephone administrations of the North American Numbering Plan (NANP).

Services

N11-numbers are used to access to special services, for example:

This U.S. road sign reminds drivers and passengers about 5-1-1 service.

• 2-1-1: Community services and information (eg: United Way of America)
• 3-1-1: Municipal government services, non-emergency number
• 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 and Relay Services for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing
• 8-1-1: Underground public utility location (United States); non-emergency health information and services (Canada)
• 9-1-1: Emergency services (police, fire, ambulance/rescue services)

(4-1-1 and 6-1-1 are commonly used within the U.S. but not officially assigned by the FCC)

The designation for special use in the North American Numbering Plan prevents their use as area code or central office prefix, eliminating nearly 8,000,000 telephone numbers from assignment.

The assigned use of each N11 can vary for the various countries included in the NANP, but 9-1-1 is mandated in the U.S. and Canada, while the availability of the other N11 codes varies by location. 7-1-1 and 9-1-1 access is mandated by law in the U.S., even within private networks (PBX, enterprise and cellular systems).

4-1-1 and 6-1-1 are supported by the service provider for the calling phone but not all carriers provide these services. 4-1-1 and 6-1-1 (formerly 8-1-1) are typically blocked within Enterprise or PBX systems (including Cellular service purchased for an Enterprise System) since generally, 4-1-1 calls incur a fee and the service is now readily accessible by other means and 6-1-1 services are managed by the Enterprise the phone resides in.

Other community services are provided through 2-1-1, but only if a non-profit organization such as the United Way or the local government operates it locally. Likewise, local or state/provincial government may, but do not uniformly, operate traffic information using 5-1-1. 8-1-1 was made mandatory in the U.S. in 2007; however, it has not been universally implemented. 7-1-1 is funded through the TRS Fund which Telco Carriers are mandated to maintain to provide Relay Services for the Deaf and Hearing Impaired.

0-1-1 and 1-1-1

Within the NANP, a leading digit of 0 or 1 indicates special dialing arrangements. For example, 0-1-1 followed by a country code is used to dial internationally or 1 followed by a 10-digit phone number indicating long distance or toll charges. In a few states, some areas retain the ability to use 7-digit dialing for local calls; in these areas a leading digit of 1- must be followed by a 10-digit phone number. As such, N11s are restricted by NANP design to N = 2 through 9, creating the 8 allowable N11s. This is also why NPAs (Area Codes) or 7-digit phone numbers (designated by NXX-XXXX) cannot have a 0 or 1 as the first digit (N).

See also

• Single non-emergency number

External links

• FAQ on Use of N11 Service Codes
• N11 Codes Assignment from NANPA.com
• Administered N11 Codes in Canada