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September 29, 2007

Huzzah!

To borrow from a famous speech by one of my personal heroes, and with all apologies to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., I just want to say, "Free at last, free at last, thank G-d Almighty, we are free at last!"

Death knell for AT&T white pages
Vicki Lee Parker, Staff Writer

AT&T wants to stop delivering white-pages directories to customers' homes in ...(some parts of the Old North State)... as it shifts information online.

AT&T submitted the proposal to the N.C. Utilities Commission on Friday. In its filing, AT&T said the move reflects a decline in the use of white-pages directories and shows its commitment to helping the environment.

Cynthia Marshall, who oversees AT&T's operations in the state, said customers who request the white pages would be mailed a copy of the directory.

If the proposal is approved, AT&T plans to combine the businesses now listed in the white pages and government listings in a single yellow-pages directory, which it would deliver to customers' homes.

AT&T, one of the largest telecommunications companies in the state, said this is the first time it has asked to drop delivery of the white pages. Raleigh and Charlotte were chosen because they are the two North Carolina cities where customers get separate directories.

Robert Gruber, director of the Public Staff, the agency that represents ratepayers in utility rate cases, said he has some concerns about the proposal.

"This is a reduction of service that customers have been used to receiving for 75 years," said Gruber. "A lot of customers are not going to like it, particularly those that don't customarily use computers. This needs to be given careful consideration."

Gruber said another potential problem is that the proposed new yellow pages would not include businesses in areas that are traditionally in white-pages directories.

For instance, the new Raleigh yellow pages would not include businesses in Benson or Clayton if they don't buy ads. In Charlotte, affected areas include Belmont and Davidson. To get the phone number for businesses in those areas, customers will have to call AT&T's toll-free information number, or request a separate phone book or CD-ROM, Gruber said.

Gruber also questioned AT&T's reason for the shift.

"They are saying this reduces solid waste," he said. "That may be true. But we think their primary reason for doing this is to reduce costs and give them an opportunity to advertise."

Gruber said that according to the proposal, when people call AT&T's information number, they would have to listen to an ad before getting the listing they want.

"Right now, if you look through the white pages, you don't have to read any advertisements," he said.

The Utilities Commission, which regulates phone companies in the state, has scheduled a public hearing on the proposal for 10 a.m. Oct. 15 in the Dobbs Building, 430 N. Salisbury St., in downtown Raleigh.

Nat Carpenter, director of the Public Staff's communications division, said the commission generally makes a decision within two weeks after the meeting.

If AT&T has its way, the residential listings that were previously listed in the white pages will be found online at www .realpageslive.com.

Posted by Jon at 05:51 PM | Comments (0)

September 18, 2007

A Funny Story...

With apologies to all for not posting for a really long time, I offer the following...

Yesterday (Monday afternoon) Jonah asked for some milk. So, being a faithful servant, I poured some milk into a sippy cup. I then placed the cup on our coffee table. Since Jonah didn't see me doing this, he said again, "I want milk..." To which I pointed at his sippy cup, and said, "Well, I don't know...what's in there? Is it water? Is it milk? Is it wine? Is it vodka? Is it cofee? Is it beer?" To which he smiled, and after each query, said, "No..." So, I said, "try i. You don't know what might be in there. At which point he picks up the sippy cup with both hands very gingerly, places it to his lips, takes a pull, and says, "Yummy beer!"

Oh crap what have I done?

Posted by Jon at 08:38 PM | Comments (0)