New bill lets people opt out of getting phone books

MINEAPOLIS, Minn.--If you're already using the internet to get phone numbers, you may soon have the opportunity to opt out of phone book delivery service. Lawmakers introduced a bill Friday that gives customers that choice.

Right now, phone books are delivered automatically to people with a landline phone. However, there are financial and environmental costs to create and distribute the phone books.

Rep. Paul Gardner (DFL-Shoreview) introduced the bill Friday, but is not entirely interested about making it a law. Instead, he wants to create conservation within companies to give consumers the choice to "opt-out" and moving their services to the web.

To prove his point, Rep. Gardner had two people on hand, who opposes his bill.

Amy Healy of New Jersey works with the Yellow Pages. She says, "I respectfully opposes Gardner's bill. Consumers still want phonebooks and, for those who don't Yellow Pages already gives consumers the opportunity to opt out."

She also says Yellow Pages is working towards being a more "green product."

Maggie Stonecipher from RHDonnelley in Kansas also opposes the bill. Her company is a leader in the print and delivery service industry.

RHDonnelley has created an online process called "SelectYourDex.com." Customers can see what products are offered in their region, what type they want delivered, or if they want to opt out of delivery and use the internet to find phone numbers.

The company started that website last year. Stonecipher says, "So far it's working well."

To confirm what people have done online, RHDonnelley has a door hanger service where people get confirmation of their decision and information f they want to change their order. Next, is the distributing the phone books.

"This may be our biggest weakness," Stonecipher says. "Especially in Minneapolis, where a lot of people live in high rise apartments, it's difficult to get in.

"We'll never be able to deliver a phonebook to Oprah Winfrey's doorstep," Stonecipher said as an example.

When asked why he flew in two people that oppose his bill, Gardner said it was to create conversation.

"This is not the most important issue," Gardner said. "This is not about balancing the budget, toxicity, or global warming. The paper industry is suffering."

Gardner brought Stonecipher and Healy together with hopes they would start talking about distribution problems like how to getting phonebooks into high-rise apartments.

"I'm not gung-ho about this bill," Rep. Gardner said. He wants more companies to start putting their directories online and give more people the option to opt-out of delivery.

"Legislation tends to scare people into acting," Gardner said.

By Christine O'Donnell, KARE 11 News Capitol Assistant

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