X

State OKs Verizon request to stop sending out ‘white pages’

Posted 10/14/10

The New York State Public Service Commission has granted Verizon New York Inc. permission to provide residential white page directories only to customers upon request. The commission says its …

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Please log in to continue

Log in

State OKs Verizon request to stop sending out ‘white pages’

Posted

The New York State Public Service Commission has granted Verizon New York Inc. permission to provide residential white page directories only to customers upon request. The commission says its position on the matter is that “to ensure that residential white page directories are only sent to those customers who want them will reduce paper waste and improve the overall environment.”

“Customers have many options regarding finding telephone numbers, and future technologies may make this task even easier,” said PSC Chairman Garry Brown. “Our decision today helps reduce paper waste, while ensuring customers who want residential white page directories can still get them. This is a win for the environment and for consumer choice.”

In May, Verizon requested a waiver to a regulation that requires it to distribute a residential white pages directory to all customers in its service territory. Verizon said that technological advances, such as the widespread availability and use of Internet directories as well as the personal directories contained in virtually all wireless and wireline handheld devices, have allowed consumers to become much less reliant on, or interested in receiving, large printed white page directories.

Verizon, the largest telephone company in New York with about 5.1 million lines, estimates that approximately 5,000 tons of paper per year could be saved, as well as the significant energy costs associated with printing and distributing much larger directories statewide.

Verizon says directories slated for delivery starting in January will not have the residential white pages included. The company, through its directory publisher, SuperMedia LLC, will continue to distribute directories containing government and business white and yellow pages listings. Those directories will contain a toll-free number that customers would use to request a free printed residential white pages directory. A CD-ROM and online white pages directory service will also be available at no charge.