"We find that the Information & Referral Petitioners have demonstrated sufficient public benefits to justify use of a scarce public resource and we therefore assign 2-1-1 to be used for access to community information and referral services."
Federal Communications Commission's final order to assign 2-1-1 on 21st July, 2000.

• 2-1-1 is a simple, easy-to-remember three-digit telephone number.

• 2-1-1 is a national partnership between AIRS and the United Way of America

• 2-1-1 provides an easy way for everyone to access comprehensive and specialized I&R services in their community.  This universal number connects individuals with community resources to find help or give help in their communities.

• The mission of 2-1-1 is to build America's capacity to strengthen the way people access help and engage in civic life.

• AIRS and the United Way of America have provided ongoing leadership to the 2-1-1 initiative to accelerate, lead, and support the implementation and sustainability of the national 2-1-1 system.

At the end of 2007, 2-1-1 serves over 219 million Americans – over 72% of the entire population – through 238 active 2-1-1 systems covering all or part of 43 states (including 26 states with 90%+ coverage) plus Washington DC and Puerto Rico. Every few weeks, those numbers increase.  In Canada, 2-1-1 currently covers more than  20% of the population.

For more information on 2-1-1 in the United States, visit www.211.org.
For more information on 2-1-1 in Canada, visit www.211.ca.