Area codes 208 and 986
Because of its small population, Idaho was among a declining number of North American jurisdictions with only one area code.In 2001, the Federal Communications Commission projected that demand would exhaust the numbering pool of area code 208 in 2003.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.On November 2, 2015, the Idaho PUC approved the addition of area code 986 as a statewide overlay.
area codesNorth American Numbering PlanAmerican Telephone and Telegraph Companyoverlay complexNevadaWyomingMalheur County, OregonCoeur d'AleneMontanaWashingtonSpokane, WashingtonFederal Communications CommissionIdaho Public Utilities Commissionnumber poolingten digitsarea codes 304 and 681West VirginiaAberdeenAlbionAmerican FallsAshtonBancroftBayviewBellevueBlackfootBlanchardBonners FerryBruneauBurleyCaldwellCambridgeCareywoodCarmenCascadeCastlefordChallisClark ForkClaytonCliftonCoolinCorralCottonwoodCouncilCraigmontCuldesacDaytonDesmetDietrichDonnellyDowneyDriggsDuboisElk CityEmmettFairfieldFerdinandFranklinFruitlandGarden CityGarden ValleyGeneseeGenevaGibbonsvilleGlenns FerryGoodingGrand ViewGrangevilleGreencreekHagermanHaileyHarrisonHaydenHeyburnHolbrookHomedaleHorseshoe BendIdaho CityIdaho FallsIndian ValleyIsland ParkJeromeJuliaettaKamiahKelloggKendrickKetchumKimberlyKooskiaLapwaiLava Hot SpringsLeadoreLewistonLowmanMackayMalad CityMarsingMcCallMcCammonMedimontMeridianMiddletonMidvaleMonteviewMontpelierMoscowMountain HomeMountain Home AFBMoyie SpringsMullanMurphyMurtaughNaplesNew MeadowsNew PlymouthNezperceNordmanNorth ForkOakleyOldtownOrofinoPayettePiercePinehurstPingreePlacervillePlummer