How does this affect Telephone
Directory Publishers?
As a result of the Overlay, a new local dialing procedure requires callers to dial the Area Code + 7-digit telephone number. This means all local calls in the 208 Area Code that are currently dialed with 7-digits will need to be dialed using the Area Code + 7-digit telephone number. Long-distance/toll calls will continue to require 1+10-digit dialing.
Telephone directories covering the 208/986 Area Code region must identify the Area Code in addition to the 7-digit number for each directory listing and display ads. Information pages should be updated to reflect 10-digit dialing information and the new Area Code as needed.
The dialing chart listed below provides a look-up chart for customer reference.
Idaho Area Code 208/986 Dialing Plan
|
Type of call
|
Calling to
|
How to Dial Calls
|
|
Local and EAS Calls
|
All Area Codes, including within 208 and 986
|
10-digits
(Area Code + XXX-XXXX)
|
|
Toll Calls
|
All Area Codes
|
1+10-digits
(1+Area Code + XXX-XXXX)
|
|
Operator Calls, credit card, collect, and third party
|
All Area Codes
|
0+10-digits
(0+Area Code + XXX-XXXX)
|
When will the change go into effect?
- Effective November 5, 2016, customers should begin using the new dialing procedure (Area Code + 7-digit telephone number) when placing local calls from the 208 Area Code. If customers forget and use the old dialing procedure of dialing just 7-digits, calls will still complete until August 5, 2017.
- Beginning August 5, 2017, customers must use the new dialing procedure for all local calls. After this date, if customers do not use the new local dialing procedure, calls will not complete, and a recording will provide instructions to hang up and dial again.
- All Directory Publishers must make changes to their directories prior to August 5, 2017.
- Starting September 5, 2017 new telephone lines or services may be assigned numbers with the new 986 Area Code, and it will be necessary to dial the Area Code + 7-digit telephone number for all local calls from the 208 and 986 Area Codes.
What is the test number for the 986 Area Code?
To enable verification that calls can complete calls to the new Area Code, a special test number will become available on June 5, 2017 through October 5, 2017.
- The test number, 986-986-1986, is local to the Boise area.
- When making a test call that is toll/long distance, dial 1 + 986-986-1986.
What will remain the same?
The price of a call, local and long-distance calling areas, and other rates and services will not change as a result of the new Area Code or the dialing change. What is a local call now will remain a local call, regardless of the number of digits dialed. Customers will continue to dial just three digits to reach 911. If 211, 311, 411, 511, 611, 711 and 811 are currently available in specific communities, these services will continue to be dialed with just three digits.
Questions?
Customers with questions about the dialing procedure change should be directed to their local service provider, or they can contact the
Public Staff - Idaho Public Utilities Commission
website at www.puc.idaho.gov for more information.
Sent on behalf of the Idaho 208/986 Area Code Industry Chairs:
Rita Schmitz - CenturyLink
George Guerra - AT&T
Jerry Piper - CTC Telecom
