Area codes 208 and 986

Area codes in Idaho.

Area codes 208 and 986 are telephone area codes in the North American Numbering Plan for all of Idaho. Area code 208 is one of the 86 original area codes created by the American Telephone and Telegraph Company (AT&T) in 1947, and was Idaho's sole area code for seventy years. In 2017, 986 was added as a second area code to the same numbering plan area by creating an overlay complex.

History

Because of its small population, Idaho was 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 that demand would exhaust the numbering pool of area code 208 in 2003. The number shortage was a result of the proliferation of landlines, cellphones, and pagers, particularly in urban areas, in the 1990s. However, in 2002 the Idaho Public Utilities Commission (IPUC) successfully delayed 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]

In the summer of 2013, NANPA projections suggested exhaustion in 2018. By this time all conservation measures had been exhausted. With Idaho's population growing closer to two million, a second area code became necessary; eleven other states with single area codes all have populations of about one million each. Ultimately, a statewide overlay was recommended. ^[2] This would have had the effect of assigning 15.6 million numbers to a state of just over 1.7 million people. However, the Idaho PUC wanted to spare Idahoans, particularly in rural areas, the expense and burden of having to change their numbers. An area code split would have also required en masse reprogramming of cell phones. In the overlay plan, subscribers with numbers in the original area code can keep it.

On November 2, 2015, the Idaho PUC approved the addition of area code 986 as a statewide overlay. 986 officially entered service on November 5, 2016. On that date, a permissive dialing period began during which it was possible to make calls with either seven or ten digits. Ten-digit dialing became mandatory across Idaho on August 5, 2017. ^{[3] [4] [5]} 986 is the second statewide overlay, following the example of area codes 304 and 681 in West Virginia in 2009.

Service area and central office codes

Cities	Area code 208 prefixes	Area code 986 prefixes
Aberdeen	328, 397	242
Albion	638, 654, 673	588, 899
American Falls	220, 226, 269, 548	245
Arbon	335	842
Arco	527, 767	732
Arimo	705, 708, 760, 904
Ashton	652	926
Bancroft	648, 776
Bayview	216, 222, 561, 683	300
Bellevue	578, 788
Bern	847, 945	382
Blackfoot	346, 604, 643, 680, 681, 684, 690, 782, 785, 980	233
Blanchard	213, 437	258
Bliss	352
Boise	202, 207, 246, 258, 272, 275, 283, 284, 296, 302, 314, 319, 321, 322, 323, 327, 331, 332, 333, 334, 336, 338, 340, 341, 342, 343, 344, 345, 348, 350, 353, 362, 363, 364, 367, 368, 370, 371, 373, 375, 376, 377, 378, 381, 383, 384, 385, 386, 387, 388, 389, 391, 393, 395, 396, 407, 409, 422, 424, 426, 429, 433, 440, 447, 472, 473, 474, 475, 484, 488, 489, 492, 493, 501, 505, 506, 509, 513, 514, 515, 519, 559, 562, 563, 565, 570, 571, 573, 576, 577, 579, 593, 600, 602, 605, 608, 609, 616, 617, 629, 639, 658, 672, 685, 703, 713, 724, 761, 780, 789, 794, 801, 803, 805, 807, 809, 810, 813, 830, 841, 850, 853, 854, 859, 860, 861, 863, 866, 867, 869, 872, 890, 891, 900, 901, 906, 908, 912, 914, 917, 918, 919, 921, 938, 939, 941, 947, 949, 954, 957, 963, 968, 971, 972, 982, 985, 986, 991, 992, 994, 995, 996, 999	200, 210, 213, 217, 224, 226, 229, 230, 236, 256, 268, 269, 270, 273, 279, 280, 283, 287, 666, 793, 837, 867, 888, 895, 910, 986, 999
Bonners Ferry	295	253, 348
Bruneau	759, 828, 832, 845	223
Buhl	490, 543
Burley	219, 261, 312, 430, 572, 647, 650, 654, 670, 677, 678, 808, 831	313
Caldwell	402, 453, 454, 455, 459, 504, 614, 649, 779, 795	201, 204, 276, 286
Cambridge	257	250
Carey	823	642
Careywood	222
Carmen	394	526
Cascade	382, 408	400, 640
Castleford	537
Challis	879	455
Clark Fork	222, 266	671
Clayton	838	982
Clifton	747
Coeur d'Alene	208, 209, 210, 215, 277, 292, 415, 416, 444, 446, 449, 470, 500, 508, 551, 601, 618, 619, 620, 625, 640, 641, 651, 659, 660, 661, 664, 665, 666, 667, 676, 691, 699, 704, 714, 719, 755, 758, 763, 765, 769, 770, 771, 797, 819, 889, 905, 916, 929, 930, 956, 964, 966, 967, 981	215, 240, 244, 248, 257, 271, 281, 668, 810, 860, 896
Coolin	443	254
Corral	653, 764	336
Cottonwood	502, 517, 962
Council	253	422
Craigmont	924, 925	566
Culdesac	836
Dayton	747
Deary	826, 877	500, 758
Declo	349, 638
Desmet	268, 274, 668, 951	203, 214, 265
Dietrich	544, 886
Donnelly	325, 382, 630, 634	227, 686
Downey	897
Driggs	354, 399, 491
Dubois	374, 560
Eden	825, 829
Elk City	842
Ellis	894	755
Emmett	365, 369, 398, 477, 817	212, 278, 777
Fairfield	764	336
Felt	456
Ferdinand	925
Filer	316, 326, 595, 613, 208-751, 933, 944, 948	220
Firth	346
Franklin	646
Fruitland	294, 452, 510, 566, 674, 707, 729	237, 272
Garden City	321, 322, 323, 327, 373, 375, 376, 377, 378, 658, 672, 685, 853, 854
Garden Valley	462, 923
Genesee	224, 285, 581
Geneva	225
Gibbonsville	394	526
Glenns Ferry	366
Gooding	934, 961, 969
Grace	425, 427, 530, 540, 547
Grand View	834, 990
Grangeville	451, 494, 507, 983	689
Greencreek	502, 517, 962
Hagerman	837
Hailey	205, 309, 450, 471, 481, 578, 622, 720, 721, 725, 726, 727, 788, 806
Hamer	662	388
Harrison	231, 689, 902, 987	255
Hayden	518, 762, 772
Heyburn	438, 654, 679
Holbrook	698	546
Homedale	337, 974
Hope	264, 266	946
Horseshoe Bend	781, 793	218
Idaho City	392
Idaho Falls	200, 201, 206, 227, 243, 313, 403, 419, 497, 516, 520, 521, 522, 523, 524, 525, 526, 528, 529, 533, 534, 535, 541, 542, 552, 557, 569, 607, 701, 709, 710, 715, 757, 818, 821, 881, 932, 970, 973	208, 219, 231, 249, 275, 497, 800
Indian Valley	253, 256	746
Inkom	705, 708, 760, 775, 904
Irwin	270, 483, 499	465
Island Park	558	426
Jerome	316, 320, 324, 329, 595, 644, 751, 933, 944, 948
Juliaetta	276, 289
Kamiah	702, 820, 935	261
Kellogg	512, 783, 784, 786
Kendrick	289	289
Ketchum	309, 450, 471, 481, 622, 720, 721, 725, 726, 727, 806, 913	209
Kimberly	420, 421, 423
Kooskia	802, 926	636
Kuna	922
Lapwai	224, 621, 804, 836, 843, 927
Lava Hot Springs	776
Leadore	768	246
Lewiston	224, 298, 299, 305, 413, 503, 553, 717, 743, 746, 748, 750, 790, 791, 792, 798, 799, 816, 848, 984	252
Lowman	259, 864	247, 482
Mackay	588	782
Malad City	766, 815
Malta	638, 645, 671, 824	243, 899
Marsing	896	225
May	876	334
McCall	315, 469, 630, 632, 634, 849
McCammon	254, 705, 708, 760, 776, 904
Medimont	689, 902
Melba	204, 495, 856	207
Meridian	288, 401, 412, 631, 695, 706, 822, 846, 855, 870, 871, 884, 887, 888, 893, 895, 898, 955
Mesa	253
Middleton	585
Midvale	355, 592
Monteview	657	542
Montpelier	847, 945	382
Moore	554
Moscow	301, 310, 596, 669, 874, 882, 883, 885, 892, 997	251, 600
Mountain Home	580, 587, 590, 591, 598, 599, 696, 796, 828, 832, 868, 943	232, 466
Mountain Home AFB	796, 828, 832
Moyie Springs	267
Mullan	744	259
Murphy	583	874
Murtaugh	218, 432
Nampa	249, 250, 318, 442, 461, 463, 465, 466, 467, 468, 498, 546, 586, 606, 615, 697, 800, 880, 899, 910, 936, 960, 965, 989	206, 216, 266, 274, 282,
Naples	267
New Meadows	347, 630, 634	886
New Plymouth	278, 566, 674, 707, 953	267, 272
Nezperce	937	264
Nordman	443	254
North Fork	394	526
Oakley	862	646, 922
Oldtown	213, 437	258
Orofino	400, 476, 827	866
Parma	203, 566, 674, 707, 722	272, 786, 980
Paul	438, 532, 679	346, 366
Payette	230, 291, 405, 642, 739, 740, 741, 812	239, 942
Peak	486	263
Pierce	464, 942	234, 900
Pinehurst	682
Pingree	328
Placerville	392	218
Plummer	231, 273, 274, 686, 987	203, 214, 241, 255
Pocatello	221, 223, 232, 233, 234, 235, 236, 237, 238, 239, 240, 241, 242, 244, 251, 252, 281, 282, 317, 339, 380, 406, 417, 478, 589, 637, 775, 833, 909, 915
Post Falls	262, 457, 773, 777
Potlatch	268, 668, 858, 875, 951	265, 333
Preston	646, 840, 851, 852
Priest River	213, 428, 437, 448	238, 258
Princeton	858
Rathdrum	687, 712
Reubens	836, 925
Rexburg	351, 356, 359, 360, 390, 496, 656, 716
Richfield	487	529
Rigby	745, 754	222, 277
Riggins	628	766
Ririe	538
Roberts	228
Rockland	335, 548	245, 842
Rogerson	655, 857	342
Rupert	260, 300, 431, 434, 436, 438, 531, 532, 679, 878, 931	366, 742
St. Anthony	372, 612, 624	582
St. Charles	945	382
St. Maries	245, 568, 582	241, 262
Salmon	303, 742, 756, 865, 940, 993
Sandpoint	217, 255, 263, 265, 290, 304, 597, 610, 627, 920, 946	205
Shelley	346, 357
Shoshone	544, 886
Soda Springs	530, 540, 547
Spencer	374, 560, 778	326
Spirit Lake	623	345
Stanley	594, 774
Star	286
Sugar City	372, 612	582
Swan Valley	270, 483
Sweet	584	218, 444
Tensed	268, 273, 951	203, 214
Terreton	663
Teton	372, 458, 612	582
Tetonia	456
Thatcher	425, 427
Troy	289, 835
Twin Falls	212, 280, 293, 308, 316, 358, 404, 410, 539, 595, 655, 731, 732, 733, 734, 735, 736, 737, 738, 749, 751, 814, 933, 944, 948
Victor	787
Viola	668, 858	265
Wallace	556, 752, 753
Wayan	564, 574, 675, 688, 873, 998	677
Weippe	435	260
Weiser	414, 549, 550, 718, 907	221
Wendell	536
Weston	646, 747
White Bird	839
Wilder	482	386
Worley	231, 273, 902, 987	241, 255
Yellow Pine	633, 636	641

Area code 208 Premium calls (unassigned)

211, 214, 229, 247, 248, 271, 279, 297, 306, 307, 311, 330, 361, 379, 411, 418, 439, 441, 445, 460, 479, 480, 485, 511, 545, 555, 567, 575, 603, 611, 626, 635, 692, 693, 694, 700, 711, 723, 728, 730, 811, 844, 903, 911, 928, 950, 952, 958, 959, 975, 976, 977, 978, 979, & 988.

Area code 986 Premium calls (unassigned)

202, 211, 228, 235, 284, 285, 287, 288, 290, 291, 292, 293, 294, 295, 296, 297, 298, 299, 301, 302, 303, 304, 305, 306, 307, 308, 309, 310, 311, 312, 314, 315, 316, 317, 318, 319, 320, 321, 322, 323, 324, 325, 327, 328, 329, 330, 331, 332, 335, 337, 338, 339, 340, 341, 343, 344, 347, 349, 350, 351, 352, 353, 354, 355, 357, 358, 359, 360, 361, 362, 363, 364, 365, 367, 368, 369, 370, 371, 372, 373, 374, 375, 376, 377, 378, 379, 380, 381, 383, 384, 385, 387, 389, 390, 391, 392, 393, 394, 395, 396, 397, 398, 399, 401, 402, 403, 404, 405, 406, 407, 408, 409, 410, 411, 412, 413, 414, 415, 416, 417, 418, 419, 420, 421, 423, 424, 425, 427, 428, 429, 430, 431, 432, 433, 434, 435, 436, 437, 438, 439, 440, 441, 442, 443, 445, 446, 447, 448, 449, 450, 451, 452, 453, 454, 456, 457, 458, 459, 460, 461, 462, 463, 464, 467, 468, 469, 470, 471, 472, 473, 474, 475, 476, 477, 478, 479, 480, 481, 483, 484, 485, 486, 487, 488, 489, 490, 491, 492, 493, 494, 495, 496, 498, 499, 501, 502, 503, 504, 505, 506, 507, 508, 509, 510, 511, 512, 513, 514, 515, 516, 517, 518, 519, 520, 521, 522, 523, 524, 525, 527, 528, 530, 531, 532, 533, 534, 535, 536, 537, 538, 539, 540, 541, 543, 544, 545, 547, 548, 549, 550, 551, 552, 553, 554, 555, 556, 557, 558, 559, 560, 561, 562, 563, 564, 565, 567, 568, 569, 570, 571, 572, 573, 574, 575, 576, 577, 578, 579, 580, 581, 583, 584, 585, 586, 587, 589, 590, 591, 592, 593, 594, 595, 596, 597, 598, 599, 601, 602, 603, 604, 605, 606, 607, 608, 609, 610, 611, 612, 613, 614, 615, 616, 617, 618, 619, 620, 621, 622, 623, 624, 625, 626, 627, 628, 629, 630, 631, 632, 633, 634, 635, 637, 638, 639, 643, 644, 645, 647, 648, 649, 650, 651, 652, 653, 654, 655, 656, 657, 658, 659, 660, 661, 662, 663, 664, 665, 667, 669, 670, 672, 673, 674, 675, 676, 678, 679, 680, 681, 682, 683, 684, 685, 687, 688, 690, 691, 692, 693, 694, 695, 696, 697, 698, 699, 700, 701, 702, 703, 704, 705, 706, 707, 708, 709, 710, 711, 712, 713, 714, 715, 716, 717, 718, 719, 720, 721, 722, 723, 724, 725, 726, 727, 728, 729, 730, 731, 733, 734, 735, 736, 737, 738, 739, 740, 741, 743, 744, 745, 747, 748, 749, 750, 751, 752, 753, 754, 756, 757, 759, 760, 761, 762, 763, 764, 765, 767, 768, 769, 770, 771, 772, 773, 774, 775, 776, 778, 779, 780, 781, 783, 784, 785, 787, 788, 789, 790, 791, 792, 794, 795, 796, 797, 798, 799, 801, 802, 803, 804, 805, 806, 807, 808, 809, 811, 812, 813, 814, 815, 816, 817, 818, 819, 820, 821, 822, 823, 824, 825, 826, 827, 828, 829, 830, 831, 832, 833, 834, 835, 836, 838, 839, 840, 841, 843, 844, 845, 846, 847, 848, 849, 850, 851, 852, 853, 854, 855, 856, 857, 858, 859, 861, 862, 863, 864, 865, 868, 869, 870, 871, 872, 873, 875, 876, 877, 878, 879, 880, 881, 882, 883, 884, 885, 887, 889, 890, 891, 892, 893, 894, 897, 898, 901, 902, 903, 904, 905, 906, 907, 908, 909, 911, 912, 913, 914, 915, 916, 917, 918, 919, 920, 921, 923, 924, 925, 927, 928, 929, 930, 931, 932, 933, 934, 935, 936, 937, 938, 939, 940, 941, 943, 944, 945, 947, 948, 949, 950, 951, 952, 953, 954, 955, 956, 957, 958, 959, 960, 961, 962, 963, 964, 965, 966, 967, 968, 969, 970, 971, 972, 973, 974, 975, 976, 978, 979, 981, 983, 984, 985, 987, 988, 989, 990, 991, 992, 993, 994, 995, 996, 997, & 998.

See also

• Idaho portal

• List of NANP area codes

Idaho area codes: 208/986

	North: 250/778/236/672, 406
West: 541/458, 509	208/986	East: 307, 406
	South: 435, 775
Montana area codes: 406
Wyoming area codes: 307
Utah area codes: 385/801, 435
Nevada area codes: 702/725, 775
Oregon area codes: 503/971, 541/458
Washington area codes: 206, 253, 360, 425, 509, 564
British Columbia area codes: 250, 604, 778/236/672

References

1. PUC orders "number pooling" to delay new area code Archived June 2, 2008, at the Wayback Machine Accessed January 30, 2008
2. Saunders, Emilie Ritter. "Your Next Idaho Phone Number Might Not Start With 208", Boise State Public Radio, June 18, 2013. (accessed February 21, 2015)
3. "Idaho's second area code approved". KTVB.COM. Archived from the original on November 5, 2015. Retrieved November 3, 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. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 4, 2016. Retrieved November 5, 2015.
5. NANPA PL-490

External links

• NANPA area code map of Idaho

45°N114°W / 45°N 114°W / 45; -114