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IDAHO STATE TELEPHONE CENTRAL OFFICE'S
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AREA CODE 208/986
Area code 208 was the original area code established for the entire state of Idaho as part of the North American Numbering Plan in October 1947. Idaho is one of the few states remaining where the one and only area code covers the entire state. As the relatively low population of Idaho started to growing the in the 1980s, and the growth of telephonic devices such as pagers, cell phones and fax machines there were fears that the remaining numbers in the 208 code would be exhausted. Initially it was considered that by 2003 an area code spilt would have to be done, however the projections quoted did not meet the split point. It was projected again that a split might happen in 2010, yet still the checked population of Idaho hadn't reached that number for a split. It was finally agreed by September 2017 an area code overlay would be done rather then a split. The overlay was decided as a measure to help prevent residents having to bare the cost of number changes some of which had had the same numbers for over sixty years. The new overlay will be area code 986 and become the second state after Virginia to establish a statewide area code overlay rather then a split.
Historically, this portion of the state has been served by Mountain States Telephone and Telegraph (later Mountain Bell) for the southern portion of the state while the northern region was covered by Pacific Northwest Bell. After divestiture in 1984, US West took over as the regional operating company for the entire state, later becoming Qwest and now Century Link. Many parts of the state are also served by rural independents where the Bell operating company did not provide services.
 ASHTON (Thanks to AJ) |
Small digital switch operated by independent Fremont Telephone Company. |
 BLACKFOOT (Thanks to AJ) |
Original Mountain States Telephone and Telegraph office, then Mountain Bell-->US West-->Qwest and now Century Link digital switch. |
 FIRTH (Thanks to AJ) |
Original Mountain States Telephone and Telegraph office, then Mountain Bell-->US West-->Qwest and now Century Link remote switch hosted from the Idaho Falls office. |
 FRANKLIN (Thanks to AJ) |
Original Mountain States Telephone and Telegraph office, then Mountain Bell-->US West-->Qwest and now Century Link remote switch hosted from the Pocatello office. |
 IDAHO FALLS (Thanks to AJ) |
Original Mountain States Telephone and Telegraph office, then Mountain Bell-->US West-->Qwest and now Century Link digital switch. Idaho Falls is host office to numerous remotes in the vicinity. Office was once considered a Class 4 Toll Center under the Direct Distance Dialing Hierarchy with direct trunk groups to the Boise Class 3 "Primary" office. |
 INKON (Thanks to AJ) |
Original Mountain States Telephone and Telegraph office, then Mountain Bell-->US West-->Qwest and now Century Link remote switch hosted from the Pocatello office. |
 McCAMMON (Thanks to AJ) |
Original Mountain States Telephone and Telegraph office, then Mountain Bell-->US West-->Qwest and now Century Link remote switch hosted from the Pocatello office. |
 POCATELLO (Thanks to AJ) |
Original Mountain States Telephone and Telegraph office, then Mountain Bell-->US West-->Qwest and now Century Link digital switch. Pocatello is a host office for numerous remotes in the vicinity and is also the local access tandem office for the eastern Idaho region. Office was once considered a Class 4 "Toll Office" under the Direct Distance Dialing hierarchy and was connected by direct trunk groups to the Boise Class 3 "Primary Office." Early toll service was provided by a #1 ESS and now has a DMS100 Tandem Switch. |
 POCATELLO "NORTH" (Thanks to AJ) |
Original Mountain States Telephone and Telegraph office, then Mountain Bell-->US West-->Qwest and now Century Link digital switch built in the late 1960s to relieve the Pocatello Main office. |
 PRESTON (Thanks to AJ) |
Original
Mountain States Telephone and Telegraph office, then Mountain Bell-->US
West-->Qwest and now Century Link remote switch hosted from the Pocatello
office. Preston is home to Napoleon Dynamite. |
 REXBURG (Thanks to AJ) |
Original Mountain States Telephone and Telegraph office, then Mountain Bell-->US West-->Qwest and now Century Link digital switch. |
 RIGBY (Thanks to AJ) |
Original Mountain States Telephone and Telegraph office, then Mountain Bell-->US West-->Qwest and now Century Link remote switch hosted from the Idaho Falls office. |
 RIRIE (Thanks to AJ) |
Original Mountain States Telephone and Telegraph office, then Mountain Bell-->US West-->Qwest and now Century Link remote switch hosted from the Idaho Falls office. |
 SHELLEY (Thanks to AJ) |
Original Mountain States Telephone and Telegraph office, then Mountain Bell-->US West-->Qwest and now Century Link remote switch hosted from the Idaho Falls office. |
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