Regulations last checked for updates: Feb 11, 2026

Title 47 - Telecommunication last revised: Feb 05, 2026
§ 52.203 - Georouting of text messages to the National Suicide Prevention and Mental Health Crisis Hotline.

(a) Georouting. All covered text providers must:

(1) Have the capability to provide georouting data for covered 988 text messages to the Lifeline Administrator in a format that is compatible with the Lifeline's routing platform, to allow routing of the 988 text message by the Lifeline Administrator to the appropriate crisis center based on the geographic area where the handset is located at the time the 988 text is initiated.

(2) Provide georouting data, when available, for covered 988 text messages to the Lifeline Administrator sufficient to allow routing of the 988 text message by the Lifeline Administrator to the appropriate crisis center based on the geographic area where the handset is located at the time the 988 text message is initiated.

(b) Definitions. For the purposes of this section:

(1) Covered 988 text message has the same definition as found in § 52.201;

(2) Covered text provider has the same definition as found in § 52.201;

(3) Georouting data means location data generated from cell-based location technology that is aggregated to a level that will not identify the location of the cell site or base station receiving the 988 text message or otherwise identify the precise location of the handset.

(4) Lifeline Administrator has the same definition as found in § 52.202;

(5) Nationwide CMRS provider has the same definition as found in § 52.202; and

(6) Non-nationwide CMRS provider has the same definition as found in § 52.202.

(c) Compliance. (1) Covered text providers that are nationwide CMRS providers shall provide georouting data for 988 text messages in accordance with paragraph (a) of this section by 18 months after October 16, 2025.

(2) All covered text providers, including non-nationwide CMRS providers, shall provide georouting data for 988 text messages in accordance with paragraph (a) of this section by 36 months after October 16, 2025.

[90 FR 44580, Sept. 16, 2025]
source: 61 FR 38637, July 25, 1996, unless otherwise noted.
cite as: 47 CFR 52.203