The 970 area code is located in north and western Colorado and covers cities such as Fort Collins, Greeley, Loveland, and Grand Junction. It is the only area code that serves this area. The 970 area code is located in the Mountain timezone. As of October 2020, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline has been assigned the three-digit code 988, which overlaps with the 970 area code. To avoid conflicts in switching systems, the Federal Communications Commission ordered telecommunication carriers of 83 area codes, including 970, to transition to ten-digit dialing, even when the area code is not involved in an overlay complex. Permissive dialing began on April 24, 2021, and ten-digit dialing has been required since October 24, 2021. In late 2025 or early 2026, area code 970 is expected to run out of available telephone numbers, and an overlay with a new area code will be implemented.