Poll:
Do you still use phone books?
SEATTLE -- Tired of phone books piling up on your doorstep?
The Seattle City council voted Monday on a yellow pages "opt-out" ordinance that would get rid of those phone books. Seattle becomes the first city in the country to set up an opt-out registry if you don't want to receive yellow pages.
City Councilor Mike O'Brien says unwanted yellow pages cost the Seattle $350,000 a year in recycling costs. O'Brien was behind the push to allow residents to say no to the books.
Under the ordinance, if someone has opted-out and still receives a book, the publisher could be fined $125. Also the publisher would have to report the number of books they distribute and pay a 14 cent-per-book recovery fee.
"I don't think it is fair rate payers have to pay the cost for the business of the yellow pages. I mean they are making profits on this," said O'Brien.
The Yellow Pages Association says it already has a voluntary opt-out system that they are currently upgrading. A spokesperson for YPA says the association is confident it can do a better job of alleviating the city's concerns that a duplicative, city-run website.
Phone book companies say they may file a lawsuit because they are being singled out.
"It does not apply to any other media. that's not fair. not legal," said Neg Norton of the Yellow Pages Assoc.
For more information on the voluntary Yellow Pages opt-out, go to www.yellowpagesoptout.com.
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