976 Numbers

I truly applaud the state Public Utility Commission’s order to California’s telephone companies requiring that they provide low-cost blocking for customers who wish to cut off access to dial-a-porn and other pay telephone services (Part I, Dec. 10). I have no real complaint against those services, even though they are sad statement about our society. If there is a demand for them, no restrictions should be placed on their use as long as no one gets hurt.

I do believe we ought to have the option to restrict that service by requiring that we pay for access to 976 numbers just like any other phone service. However, in typical bureaucratic and big business fashion the phone companies have weaseled another way to charge customers; and now for a service customers don’t even want.

JOHN HILLMAN

Santa Monica