AT&T wants to end mandatory white pages in La.

wwltv.com

Posted on May 8, 2012 at 11:37 AM

Alan Sayre / Associated Press

NEW ORLEANS In the era of mobile telephones, AT&T Inc. is trying to rid itself of a long-standing tradition in Louisiana: the familiar white pages of residential phone listings dropped on front porches and driveways.

The staff of the Louisiana Public Service Commission has recommended a plan under which white pages would be sent only to customers who specifically request the directory. AT&T customers also could request a CD-ROM of home listings for computer use.

The commission could vote on the proposal May 23.

The program wouldn't affect the yellow pages, which is advertiser-supported, or the business version of the white pages, both of which would be delivered to all customers.

"The traditional residential white page telephone directory no longer provides the same utility it once did as customers are now turning less and less to the residential white pages directory and are looking to online and other resources for listing information," AT&T said in its request to the commission.

Public Service Commissioner Foster Campbell opposes the request, calling it "a moneymaking deal" for AT&T.

"What do you think people are going to do when you take their telephone directory away? They're going to call 411 and pay $1.50. If they don't have a computer, they're going to call 411," Campbell said.

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AT&T wants to end mandatory white pages in La.