PUC Approves Environmentally Friendly Plan To Make Telephone White Pages By Verizon

The Public Utility Commission this week approved a petition by Verizon Pennsylvania Inc. and Verizon North Retain Co. to annually provide paper copies of residential white pages directories to customers who request to receive them.
            The Commission voted 5-0 to make paper copies of residential white page directories available by request only as of Jan. 1, 2011. Verizon will continue to provide residential listing information through its website and CD-ROM. The paper copies will continue to be available to those customers who request them at no charge.
            Under the plan, Verizon will significantly reduce the nearly 12 million yearly paper copies of the white pages directories. The company called the plan an "environmentally-friendly" initiative. Information contained in the "consumer guide pages" and governmental listing (blue) pages of the yellow pages directory will still be distributed to all customers.
            The Commission's decision does not involve a change in or waiver of Commission regulations. As such, it does not have any effects upon existing interconnection agreements or other contractual arrangements between the Verizon Companies and other telecommunications utilities where the distribution of Verizon white page directories may be implicated.
            The Commission required Verizon to provide adequate customer notice about the change in service as well as the options available to customers who wish to continue to receive paper copies of residential white pages directories. In addition, the Commission is requiring Verizon to continue its Chapter 64 obligations of providing information regarding customer billing and termination procedures.
            The Commission opened a comment period on the proposal on September 22. The state's Office of Consumer Advocate filed comments generally in favor of the plan, but requested certain conditions. Verizon addressed those conditions in separate comments filed with the Commission. The company is to consult with the PUC to develop appropriate language for customer notice and bill inserts.
            NewsClips: White Pages To Fade In Green Effort
                                Verizon Hanging Up On White Pages


11/8/2010

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