Area code 208

Map of Idaho's area code in blue (with border states)
Area code 406 Area code 509 Area code 250 Area code 307 Area code 435 Area code 775 Area code 541 Area code 403Map of Idaho's area code in blue (with border states)
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208 is the North American telephone area code for all of Idaho.

Because of its small population, Idaho is among a declining number of North American jurisdictions with only one area code. It is also one of the few whole-state area codes split between multiple LATAs—Southern Idaho (centered in Boise and spilling into Nevada, Wyoming and Malheur County, Oregon) and Coeur d'Alene (spilling into Montana and Washington). Additionally, the Spokane, Washington LATA spills into central Idaho.

In 2001, the Federal Communications Commission projected the 208 area code would be exhausted in 2003. Due to the multi-LATA structure of 208, several numbers in Montana's 406, Wyoming's 307, northern Nevada's 775, eastern Oregon's 541 and eastern Washington's 509 weren't available for use. However, in 2002 the IPUC was able to successfully delay a split by implementing number pooling in Boise; this was later applied in 2007 to the rest of Idaho to stave off projected exhaustion in 2010.[1]

At current projections, 208 is expected to exhaust by 2018 and a second area code may be needed in Idaho by then, as the state's population grows closer to two million; 11 other states with single area codes all have populations of about a million each. A statewide overlay was recommended.[2]

On November 2, 2015, the Idaho PUC approved the addition (via overlay) of area code 986, starting 5 September 2017.[3][4] This was done to spare Idahoans, particularly in rural areas, the expense and burden of having to change their numbers. It will be the second statewide overlay, following the example of area codes 304 and 681 in West Virginia.

List of exchanges

This list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.

See also

Idaho area codes: 208
North: 250/778/236, 406
West: 541, 509 208 East: 307, 406
South: 435, 775
Montana area codes: 406
Wyoming area codes: 307
Utah area codes: 385, 435, 801
Nevada area codes: 702/725, 775
Oregon area codes: 458, 503, 541, 971
Washington area codes: 206, 253, 360, 425, 509
British Columbia area codes: 236, 250, 604, 778

References

  1. ↑ PUC orders "number pooling" to delay new area code Archived June 2, 2008, at the Wayback Machine. Accessed334sed 30 January 2008
  2. ↑ Saunders, Emilie Ritter. "Your Next Idaho Phone Number Might Not Start With 208", Boise State Public Radio, June 18, 2013. (accessed 21 February 2015)
  3. ↑ "Idaho's second area code approved". KTVB.COM. Retrieved 3 November 2015.
  4. ↑ "IN THE MATTER OF THE APPLICATION OF NEUSTAR, INC. FOR APPROVAL OF NPA RELIEF PLAN FOR THE 208 AREA CODE" (PDF). Idaho PUC official website. Idaho Public Utilities Commission. Retrieved 5 November 2015.

External links

Coordinates: 45°N 114°W / 45°N 114°W / 45; -114

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