This is in response to an October letter asserted that phone books are a non-necessity, a waste, and phone companies should only give them to people who order them: Although phone books may seem like a waste, businesses are free to spend their money how they like, and phone books are still useful to many people.
You might think that phone books are waste, using so much paper, but they are actually recyclable, encouraged to be recycled, and the material is reused.
Also, you don’t have to get a phone book if you don’t want to. Phone companies aren’t forcing people to get them. For example, if you are a user of their service and they send you phone books, Verizon has a number you can call to say that you don’t want them anymore.
There are legitimate ways to take action and voice complaints. You can complain about your bill money being used for them, and/or change companies if you like. Some of the money from Verizon cell phone bills actually goes to these books. Many people think that they are produced using taxpayer money, but these are private companies. For some phone books, part of the money that businesses pay to advertise in the books goes to the cost of production. The government doesn’t tax you for them.
Some older people are unable to access a computer or might even not own one, so they need phone books. My dad’s grandpa has never owned a computer, and doesn’t want one. Without a phone book, how would he be able to find certain numbers? And another relative, my mom’s mom, said that it’s better to have one, just in case, and she has trouble looking up numbers online.
I urge The Herald and citizens to take action and show that phone books are not a waste. Phone companies should show they are not forcing their phone books on people. Let’s say yes to freedom of choice instead.
Taryn Cook
Mill Creek
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