Area Code 207
Maine
Area code 207 serves Maine, primarily Portland, in the Eastern Time (ET) time zone. It has served the region since 01-Jan-1947.
Historical Timeline of Area Code 207
Area code 207 was created on January 1, 1947, as one of the original 86 North American Numbering Plan area codes assigned by AT&T. It has never been split or overlaid, making it one of the longest-surviving original NANP codes with unchanged geographic boundaries. Maine's congressional delegation called it a "cultural touchstone" in 2021, and conservation efforts between 2018 and 2025 extended the code's projected lifespan from 2019 to 2050, a 31-year gain. Source: Wikipedia
- January 1, 1947: Area code 207 is established as one of the original 86 NANP codes, assigned to the entire state of Maine. It remains Maine's sole area code. Source: Wikipedia
- 2018: The Maine Public Utilities Commission begins monitoring the projected exhaustion date for area code 207. Early projections indicated the code could run out of available numbers within a decade. Source: MPUC 2023 Annual Report
- 2020: MPUC opens preservation inquiry under Docket 2020-00026, initially projecting exhaustion in Q4 2024. The commission orders carriers to return eligible thousands-blocks to the available number pool. Source: MPUC Docket 2020-00026
- 2021: Verizon Wireless numbering practices investigation opened. All four members of Maine's congressional delegation write to the FCC calling area code 207 a "cultural touchstone" and urging federal action to preserve it. Exhaust projection extended to end of 2025. Source: Press Herald
- 2022: The FCC seeks public comment on waiving Section 52.13 for area codes 207 and 701 (DA-22-130). T-Mobile numbering practices investigation opened by MPUC. Exhaust projection extended through Q4 2029. Source: FCC DA-22-130
- 2023: Rate center consolidation investigation opened (Docket 2023-00009). LD 396 enacted (PL 2023 ch. 144), requiring Internet-based VoIP providers to register with the state and reducing robocalling. Exhaust projection extended to Q4 2032. Source: MPUC Numbering Rules
- 2024: MPUC approves consolidation of 135 Consolidated Communications rate centers into one, the largest such consolidation in the United States. This freed hundreds of thousands of previously locked numbers, including 336,000 in the Bangor area alone. Exhaust projection extended to Q4 2033. Source: MPUC 2024 Annual Report
- 2025: NANPA projects that conservation efforts will extend the 207 area code's lifespan to approximately 2050. Source: Bangor Daily News
The conservation campaign behind area code 207 is notable for its convergence of state and federal regulatory action. Over five years, MPUC, the FCC, and the Maine legislature worked in parallel to address what initially appeared to be an imminent exhaustion crisis. The result transformed a code projected to last only until 2019 into one projected to last until 2050.
Unique Facts About Area Code 207
Area code 207 is Maine's sole area code, covering approximately 1.39 million residents across the entire state. Despite only 37% of its 8 million available numbers being in active use, the code was projected to exhaust by 2019 due to inefficient 1,000-block allocation and carrier hoarding. Conservation efforts between 2020 and 2025 extended its life to 2050. Source: Bangor Daily News
- One Provider Held 50,000 Numbers but Used Only 100: During the MPUC's numbering conservation investigation, one provider was found to have acquired 50,000 Maine telephone numbers while actively using only 100 at a time. This case of numbering hoarding was a key driver behind the commission's decision to investigate carrier practices and tighten allocation rules. Source: MPUC 207 Report to Legislature
- Largest Rate Center Consolidation in the United States: In 2024, the MPUC approved the consolidation of 135 Consolidated Communications rate centers into a single rate center. This freed hundreds of thousands of previously locked numbers, including 336,000 in the Bangor area alone. MPUC identified it as the largest rate center consolidation of its kind in the country. Source: MPUC 2024 Annual Report
- One of Only 11 Single-Area-Code States: Maine is one of just 11 US states served by a single area code, alongside Alaska, Delaware, Hawaii, Montana, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Vermont, and Wyoming. This makes the 207 code uniquely tied to statewide identity in a way that multi-code states do not experience. Source: Bangor Daily News
- 750,000 Numbers Returned to the Pool: Carrier investigations and voluntary thousands-block transfers returned approximately 750,000 unused numbers to the available pool. MPUC staff pioneered a voluntary transfer process that alone saved 150,000 numbers, a model later cited as a national best practice. Source: Press Herald
- 207 as a Business Identity: Maine businesses widely adopt "207" as shorthand for state identity. A review of Secretary of State records found hundreds of registered business names incorporating the area code, reflecting the code's cultural significance beyond telecommunications. Source: Press Herald
- NANP Expansion Would Cost $90–270 Billion: A 1999 estimate, adjusted to 2023 dollars, projected that expanding the North American Numbering Plan to add new area codes nationwide would cost between $90 billion and $270 billion. This figure was cited by MPUC and the FCC as a key argument against creating a new Maine area code through traditional NANP expansion. Source: MPUC Area Code and Numbering
The paradox at the heart of area code 207 is that only 37% of its 8 million numbers are in use, yet it was projected to exhaust within a decade. The explanation lies in the 1,000-block allocation system, which assigns numbers in groups of 1,000 regardless of actual need, combined with carrier hoarding practices that locked away unused blocks.
FCC Regulatory History
Area code 207 has been the subject of seven regulatory proceedings since 2020, spanning the Maine Public Utilities Commission and the Federal Communications Commission. The convergence of state and federal action is unusual: MPUC investigated carrier numbering practices, consolidated rate centers, and enacted legislation while simultaneously the FCC explored federal relief through Section 52.13 waivers. Source: MPUC Numbering Rules
| Year | Event | Docket | Regulatory Action & Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | MPUC preservation inquiry | 2020-00026 | MPUC opened a formal inquiry into the preservation of the 207 area code, initially projecting exhaustion in Q4 2024. The commission ordered carriers to return eligible thousands-blocks to the available number pool. Source: MPUC Docket 2020-00026 |
| 2020 | Carrier numbering compliance | 2020-00192 | MPUC opened a separate investigation into carrier numbering practices and compliance with state allocation rules. This docket examined how 1,000-block assignments were being managed by telecommunications providers operating in Maine. Source: MPUC Numbering Rules |
| 2021 | Verizon Wireless investigation | 2021-00212 | MPUC opened an investigation into Verizon Wireless's numbering practices, examining whether the carrier was holding unused blocks of Maine numbers. Maine's congressional delegation simultaneously wrote to the FCC urging federal action. Source: Press Herald |
| 2022 | FCC Section 52.13 waiver inquiry | DA-22-130 | The FCC sought public comment on whether to waive Section 52.13 of the Code of Federal Regulations for area codes 207 and 701. This federal action was unusual and reflected the urgency of the conservation effort. Source: FCC DA-22-130 |
| 2022 | T-Mobile investigation | 2022-00212 | MPUC opened an investigation into T-Mobile's numbering practices, similar to the earlier Verizon investigation, examining whether the carrier was efficiently utilizing assigned number blocks in Maine. Source: MPUC Numbering Rules |
Demographics & Economics
- Total Population
- 1,390,901
- Population Density
- 42 people/sq mibelow U.S. average (U.S.: 94 people/sq mi)
- Median Household Income
- $68,441below U.S. median (U.S.: $78,538)
- Poverty Rate
- 10.9%below U.S. average (U.S.: 12.4%)
- Unemployment Rate
- 4.0%below U.S. average (U.S.: 5.2%)
- Education Attainment
- Bachelor's Degree+35.1%near U.S. average (U.S.: 35.0%)High School or Lower32.5%
Statistics are population-weighted aggregations from Census ACS 5-year estimates.See Sources for details.
Geographic Coverage
State
ME
Major Cities
- Portland
- Lewiston
- Bangor
- South Portland
- Auburn
- Biddeford
- Sanford
- Saco
- Westbrook
- Augusta
- Brunswick
- Waterville
- Orono
- Brewer
- Old Orchard Beach
- Bath
- Presque Isle
- Ellsworth
- Caribou
- Gorham
- Rockland
- Belfast
- Topsham
- Skowhegan
and 131 more cities
Time Zone
- Eastern Time (ET)
Current Time
County Coverage
Population-weighted county share based on aggregated ZCTA population (100% = total mapped population for area code 207).
| County | Population | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Cumberland, ME | 303,838 | 21.8% |
| York, ME | 212,761 | 15.3% |
| Penobscot, ME | 156,629 | 11.3% |
| Kennebec, ME | 127,542 | 9.2% |
| Androscoggin, ME | 112,323 | 8.1% |
| Aroostook, ME | 68,812 | 4.9% |
| Oxford, ME | 62,389 | 4.5% |
| Somerset, ME | 54,840 | 3.9% |
| Hancock, ME | 54,359 | 3.9% |
| Waldo, ME | 40,036 | 2.9% |
| Knox, ME | 39,649 | 2.9% |
| Sagadahoc, ME | 37,093 | 2.7% |
| Lincoln, ME | 34,152 | 2.5% |
| Franklin, ME | 32,469 | 2.3% |
| Washington, ME | 29,032 | 2.1% |
| Piscataquis, ME | 24,570 | 1.8% |
| Coos, NH | 407 | 0.0% |
Call Context
This area code spans a mix of urban centers and rural communities across ME, with Portland as a primary city.
Nearby Area Codes
Area codes geographically closest to 207.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about area code 207 and how phone numbering works.
One of original 86 NANP codes assigned in 1947. Never split or overlaid.
Retains original boundaries since 1947. One of 11 states with a single area code.
Phone numbers assigned to area code 207 are tied to where they were originally provisioned — not the caller's current location. This code serving roughly 1391k people covers Portland in ME, so a number originally set up there will retain the 207 prefix even if the owner moves or uses VoIP. Mobile phones keep their original number when users relocate, and businesses often adopt local area codes to establish a regional presence.
Start by looking up the area code on this site to understand its geographic context — area code 207 is associated with Portland in ME. For caller-specific details, use your carrier's caller ID features or check public directories. If you suspect fraud, you can report it to the FTC. To file a complaint about robocalls or spoofed numbers, visit the FCC Consumer Complaint Center. You can also register with the National Do Not Call Registry.
While Portland is a prominent city in this area code's coverage, the code serves the broader surrounding region as well. Area codes are assigned geographically and typically cover multiple cities, towns, and communities beyond any single anchor city.