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Calling Oregon? Prepare for changes next year.

Idahoans who dial Oregon numbers toll-free will have to add an area code in 2010.

- STATESMAN STAFF

Published: 02/27/09

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Some western Idaho residents who have toll-free calling into Oregon will soon be dialing an area code along with the seven-digit number.

The Oregon Public Utility Commission recently approved a second area code for eastern Oregon that will be applied to new phone numbers. The new 458 area code will become effective in 2010.

But because existing numbers will retain their original 541 area code, western Idaho callers will have to dial 10 digits when phoning someone in eastern Oregon.

Some Idahoans along the Idaho-Oregon border have toll-free calling into Ontario, Nyssa and other communities in the current 541 area code. In 2010, those Idaho callers will have to use either the 541 area code or the new 458 area code even for toll-free calls. Dialing for 911 emergency calls will not change.

In many parts of the country, states have added new area codes as the number of telephone numbers assigned to landline and cellular phones, pagers and fax machines grows. In the past, area codes were assigned by geographic region. When that happened, residents and businesses in the part of the state that got the new area code had to change their phone numbers.

In more recent years, states have gone to "area code overlays," which assign new area codes to new numbers only while existing numbers retain the old area codes. This method is less disruptive, particularly to businesses. But the area code overlay does require people calling into the area to dial 10 digits, instead of seven, because more than one area code exists in the same geographic region.

Idaho has been able to delay adding a second area code by implementing a numbers conservation plan, the Idaho Public Utilities Commission said. However, the federal agency that administers area codes has told the state that its 208 area code is projected to expire in 2012.

The commission plans to consider options later this year.

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TRAFFIC

Calling Oregon? Prepare for changes next year.

Idahoans who dial Oregon numbers toll-free will have to add an area code in 2010.

- STATESMAN STAFF

Published: 02/27/09

IdahoStatesman.com