Select a region
The question of whether we should continue printing and delivering phone directories should be viewed in the context of the climate emergency, argues one reader.
Jersey’s competition watchdog is currently conducting a review to assess future demand for phone books, and whether the licence conditions placed on operators to provide them should remain or change.
Responding to an article in Express about the review, Simon Langlois had this to say…
All around the world for the last few years, telephone companies have been permitted to stop printing and delivering paper phone books, mainly because they are rarely used by most customers.
More importantly, we are in a government-declared Climate Emergency! This should override all other factors in the review. The requirement for JT to provide the Jersey Directory in printed form should be removed immediately, still leaving the two remaining sources of telephone information: the online portal and directory enquiries.
As part of a transition, perhaps they could have a limited number of printed directories available on request for the minority of people that still use them? This would result in a much smaller print run.
It would probably encourage people to let their 'fingers do the walking' (old BT ad) on their phone screen or keyboard, rather than on pages made from chopped down trees.
I can't believe that the JCRA is saying that they want to "ensure consumer choice is protected, if necessary." All organisations should have the climate emergency at the forefront of their decision-making and there should be no question (or review) about the removal of the legal requirement for JT to have to unnecessarily print and deliver mostly unused phone books every year.
Just remove the requirement - we're in a climate emergency!
Simon Langlois
La Route Orange, St. Brelade
Comments
Comments on this story express the views of the commentator only, not Bailiwick Publishing. We are unable to guarantee the accuracy of any of those comments.