What are 208 and 986, and where do they cover?

208 is Idaho’s original statewide code; 986 is the statewide overlay serving the same geography. Together they cover Boise, Meridian, Nampa, Caldwell, Twin Falls, Idaho Falls, Pocatello, Coeur d’Alene, Lewiston and all Idaho communities.

How did Idaho move from a single code to an overlay?

• 1947: 208 created as one of the original NANP codes.

• Nov 2015: Idaho PUC approved adding 986 as a statewide overlay with a 16-month implementation.

• Nov 5, 2016: Permissive 10-digit dialing began.

• Aug 5, 2017: Mandatory 10-digit dialing began statewide.

• Sept 5, 2017: 986 entered service; new numbers could receive 986.

Existing 208 numbers did not change.

What are the current dialing rules for 208/986?

Idaho uses 10-digit dialing for all local calls (area code + number). Long-distance calls may require 1 + 10 digits, and 3-digit services (e.g., 911) are unchanged.

Which cities and regions are most associated with 208/986?

Major population centers include Boise metro (Boise, Meridian, Nampa, Caldwell), Twin Falls, Idaho Falls & Pocatello in the east, and Coeur d’Alene/Lewiston in the north. Idaho spans two time zones (Mountain and Pacific), which sometimes appears in area-code references and carrier lookups.

Why did Idaho choose an overlay instead of a split?

An overlay adds numbering capacity without forcing anyone to change their existing number, which regulators favored to minimize disruption and reprogramming across the state.

What interesting facts are tied to 208/986?

• 70 years with one code: Idaho kept only 208 from 1947 to 2017, one of the longest single-code runs in the U.S.

• Second statewide overlay: Implementing 986 made Idaho one of the early examples of a statewide overlay (following West Virginia’s 304/681 in 2009).