Should the delivery of phone books to your home or business be managed through an opt-in or opt-out process? That is the core of the debate that is brewing across the country right now. The opt-in program means that you have to ask for the phone book – that is the basis of the Colorado bill that was introduced last week. The Denver Daily reports on the issue.
Rep. Mark Ferrandino, D-Denver, introduced a bill last week that would prohibit a basic telephone service provider from delivering a white page directory or other paper document in excess of one pound unless the customer requests the delivery. A telephone service provider in violation of the proposed law would have to pay a $50 fine per delivery for the first 100 recipients and $1,000 per recipient for subsequent deliveries. Fines would be capped at $100,000 per year. Read the whole article here.
The Industry trade association, Yellow Pages Association and phone book publishers like Dex, Super Media and Yellow Book want the process to be opt-out. That is, you are going to get the phone book unless you opt-out. Quest Communications points to the Dex Select program that let’s you choose how many of the various Dex phone books they will deliver to your home as an example of self regulation.
For their part, Peter Larmey of Dex, the publishing company for Qwest Communications, said he thinks that most customers and lawmakers will not think a bill like Ferrandino’s is necessary because of the phone company’s new Select Your Dex program that was recently unveiled in Colorado. The program was one of the first by phone book providers to allow people to choose how many and what kind of phone book they want.
I decided to take a look at what it takes to stop the phone books to my test address in Boulder, Co.
Here are the results. First I had to figure out that Dexknows.com is the publisher for my local phone book. Once I found their site, I had to find the opt-out form. At first glance, I could not find it. To find the form, you have to know that you should click Select Your Dex from the footer on the dexknows.com website.
Opt in, of course. But need to actually have a solution: People most in need of a phone book include those w/out a computer. Therefore an on-line survey would not catch some important responses. Suggest phone company survey customers by mail with a opt in/opt out check box postcard to return. I suspect most customers would opt out, but it’s important for those who want a phone book to have just as much a chance to say “yes” as for others to say “no.”
I have to be in agreement with Bridget that many in need of a phone book don’t have computer resources and may not be able to afford the extra $ for directory assistance via phone services. Seems not a lot of realistic planning to the above proposal has really been done for proposal of this bill in Colorado. Printed phone books are not yet obsolete but there should be only one set and not several from different companies based on an option made directly from the consumer.
If only there was a service that was as easy and well-known as Catalog Choice for phonebooks.
California Senator Leland Yee is about to introduce an “opt-in” bill for White Pages. It’s a start!
To keep up with the California Opt In campaign, check out Phonebookfree.org.