AP
NEWPORT, N.Y. – It’s the sign of our times. A local phone company will no longer print phone books for its customers.
This is a sign that the times have changed. A local telephone provider will stop printing all phone books.
The New York State Public Service Commission granted Newport Telephone Company permission to end the printing and delivering of directories.
“Today’s orders authorize the companies to supply free on-line digital format directories and to print directories for customers who request them without charge. Companies must inform each customer, and provide information on their website on how to access an online directory or obtain a printed version.
Rory M. Christian is the chair of the Commission and he believes that it makes sense to stop using old-fashioned telephone directories.
“Customers today flip through the internet for phone numbers; they no longer bother to page through a phone book,” Christian said.
There are many more options online than on paper for finding out a number.
The Commission has approved similar requests over the years from other phone companies to stop blanket distribution of directories. According to a recent statement, 22 small phone companies continue to provide telephone directories on a blanket basis to their customers.
The other phone companies granted permission to stop printing and distributing printed books include Germantown Telephone Company, Cassadaga Telephone Corporation and Dunkirk and Fredonia Telephone Company.
According to the Commission, “the companies serve approximately 5500 customers in Chautauqua County, Columbia County, Herkimer County, Hamilton county and Oneida county.”
According to the Newport Telephone Company website, they provide portions of Deerfield, Herkimer, Schuyler, Fairfield, Newport, Russia, Ohio, Norway and Morehouse with service.
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