Telephone books, those once indispensable directories that still land with a thud on every doorstep, may soon be heading the way of the rotary dial. Verizon, the dominant state’s land line company, is pressing regulators to allow it to stop annual delivery of millions of residential White Pages to its New Jersey customers. The telecommunications firm said it would save 1,400 tons of paper annually by stopping distribution in the state. It is part of nationwide effort by phone companies to scale back production of the thick volumes, which, in the digital age, have become increasingly obsolete. Verizon has a similar request before state regulators in New York, while AT&T has already received approval to stop delivering White Pages in states such as Florida and Ohio.
Only about one in nine households still uses the printed listings, said Verizon spokesman Rich Young, citing a 2008 Gallup survey. He said millions are automatically delivered each year in New Jersey, though he did not know an exact figure.
Verizon petitioned the state Board of Public Utilities last month, said Young, adding the firm is underscoring the environmental benefits and cost savings for the taxpayer, whose dollars are often spent to haul away and recycle unwanted books.
If the BPU grants the request, he said Verizon will cease the service by next February, which is phone book distribution season in New Jersey. Customers who prefer to look up phone numbers the old fashioned way will still be able to have the White Pages delivered to them in print form or on compact disc.
The BPU is considering Verizon’s request, but has not scheduled a hearing to vote on it, said spokesman Greg Reinert.
Most of the cost savings will be realized by SuperMedia, a former Verizon subsidiary that publishes the directories.
The company will still print the business White Pages and Yellow Pages for New Jersey residents. Spokesman Andrew Shane said demand for the Yellow Pages — which charges local businesses and is one of the firm’s biggest money makers — is still strong. Star Ledger
with the computer age, were just going to need to go online to find out all our information.
no phone books? What will I use as a booster seat for my small children? This is not good news !
What is the Sandak going to place his feet on?
It’s about time as soon as it comes I have to bring it to a recycling center takes up way too much space
I don’t know any other volume as thick as the phonebook that I can tear in half.. So how am I going to show off how strong I am now??
oh no there goes the booster seats!
there goes the book I throw when I’m mad!
So because of ONE Gallup survey I’m going to lose my phonebook and will have tp pay 411 every time I need a number.. Everyone knows that the Gallup polls/surveys are rigged by whoever pays for them.. this is soo wrong!
You can still get them They just won’t come automatically.
I checked it out. The Gallup survey was paid for by superMedia – a division of Verizon (which is trying to save big bucks by discontinuing the printing & delivery of these phonebooks.)
Also, from the available research out there it seems that if this petition goes through, Verizon will NOT make it too easy to request a directory and will make available ONLY on CD and NOT in print.
You need to read the filing with the BPU and not be soimech on some newspaper article.
Please dont take away my phone books i use them to test out the expansion quality’s of my hollow points
Try (800) free-411 if you need a phone # – you have to listen to an advertisement, but you get the # for free.
Without my phone book, how will I see out my winshield?
For some reason this supposed Gallup Survey is nowhere to be found.. I am most curious to see the type questions asked, the audience targeted, and the specific methodology utilized to reach those results.