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AT&T and PSC: no more white pages to your home
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The Florida Public Service Commission has granted AT&T its request to end distribution of the white pages to its customers. The country’s largest telephone company has operated under a requirement to provide the phone book white pages to consumers. After a unanimous vote, Commission Chairman Matthew M. Carter II said, “fewer printed directories will also create less waste and help our environment.”
AT&T contends that continuing to publish the white pages would place a hardship on their company. Spokesman for AT&T also contended that there would be less environmental impact if they did not have to publish the residential white pages for its customers. In addition, their consumer poll indicates that the white pages are being used less than ever before.
PSC staff recommended a denial of the waiver request from AT&T. The denial report stated that AT&T “failed to satisfy requirements in the (state) statute” and failed to prove that they (AT&T) would be harmed.
Along with other AT&T spokesmen present at the Tuesday hearing, Stan Greer contended that customers will be able to order a directory through a toll free number to be printed on the front of the yellow pages. In addition, consumers can order a Compact Disc(CD) of the white pages. Both will be free of charge for now.
PSC Commissioners were largely sympathetic to the AT&T waiver request with the exception of Commissioner Nancy Argenziano, a former state representative. Argenziano questioned the survey taken by AT&T and the hardship that could be placed on the state’s elderly citizens or those without direct access to a computer.
AT&T spokesman said that PSC staff focused to ”too narrowly” on the company’s financial hardship and not enough on efficiencies that would be afforded the company.
One key concern by Commissioner Argenziano was the possibility that AT&T would charge consumers for the directory or CD in the future. PSC staff indicated that they “may” have to come back to the commission for approval. The statute requires AT&T to provide the white pages. However, once the Commission votes that AT&T does not have to provide the directory, there exists the possibility that the company will be able to charge for the directory in the future.
In continued questioning of the granting of the waiver, Commissioner Argenziano said, “I’m willing to almost bank that consumers will end up paying for that service.”
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