text: As of early 2007, all 811 services in the U.S. were forced to convert to using 611, as the United States Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in March 2005 made 811 the universal number for the 71 regional services that coordinate location services for underground public utilities in the U.S. Before that time, each of these "call before you dig" services had its own 800 number, and the FCC and others wanted to make it as easy as possible for everyone planning an excavation to call first.