Utilities commission delays new area code 

The Idaho Public Utilities Commission has been granted authority by the Federal Communications Commission to order most of the states' telecommunications providers to participate in a number of pooling programs that will extend the life of Idaho's single "208" area code.

The FCC agency that manages telephone area codes in North America is projecting that Idaho's area code will run out of telephone numbers in the second quarter of 2010. To delay that exhaust date, the Idaho commission is expanding mandatory "1,000-block number pooling" to include areas of the state beyond Boise, the commission said in a statement.

In areas outside Boise, telephone numbers are assigned to telecommunications companies in 10,000-number blocks. However, many providers do not use all the numbers assigned to them, leaving lots of numbers "stranded". Only 42.2 percent of the numbers assigned to Idaho providers are in use.

The Treasure Valley area has been ordered to participate in number pooling since 2002. The latest order expands number pooling to include the entire state.

This is the second time Idaho has been able to delay another area code. In August of 2001, the FCC projected Idaho's area code would be exhausted in the fall of 2003. In 2002, the commission ordered Boise area telecommunications providers to return numbers not in use and then receive new numbers only in 1,000-number blocks as needed.

Rural providers that do not have local number portability or rural companies that do not have a competitive landline or wireless provider are not required to participate.

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