Payphone Numbers You Should Know @ (NAPSA)—Hereare a few telephonestatistics that may ring a bell with you: There are more than two million payphones nationwide, 500,000 of which are run by independent Payphone Service Providers, or PSPs. Therest are operated by local telephone companies such as the “Baby Bells,” Verizon, BellSouth and others. Over 400 completed calls are made from each payphone every month. Thattranslatesto overa billion calls made each month from payphonesthroughout the country. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) says 5.5 million American households have noresidential phoneservice. An estimated 25 percent of urban poor households have no phone at home. For these communities, payphones are a lifeline that is often their only communications option for emergencies, keeping in touch with family or other needs. 9-1-1 calls are free on any payphone, anytime, anywhere. Since payphones are in fixed places, police and medical personnel can locate them quickly—cutting response time in emergencies. Independent PSPs range in size from mom-and-pop operations with only one payphone, to Davel Communications Inc., a publiclytraded company with more than 69,000 phonesin 44 states. The American Public Communications Council represents 1,250 independent PSPs operating about 550,000 payphones. Fifty percent of American households, and about two-thirds of U.S. citizens, don’t own cell phones. Payphones are their only option for calls away from homeor work. Payphonesare the best dollar value for local and long-distance calls when paid by coin—better than prepaid calling cardsor wireless. The cost of a coin call is clearly posted on every payphone. Unlike wireless phones, there are no contracts to sign or expensive equipmentto buy. Payphones provide service to both cellphone users and non-cellphone users. Payphones offer unbeatable clarity and clear connections that won’t be dropped— and no dead batteries to worry about.
