COLUMBUS — State regulators have given Cincinnati Bell Inc. permission to reduce distribution of white-pages telephone directories, in favor of letting customers rely on electronic, online directory listings from the company.

The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio approved the company's request Wednesday, Jan. 7. Customers may still receive a printed directory upon request.

Cincinnati Bell said it is pleased with the ruling, saying that it will reduce expenses of producing phone books that many customers no longer use. But the Ohio Consumers' Counsel office, which represents residential utility consumers in the state, noted that many customers still rely on printed directories, and that requiring them to request the phone books could deprive customers of information they want and need.

The decision does not apply to Cincinnati Bell's yellow-pages directories, which are advertiser-supported. The company serves business customers in the Dayton area.

Spokesmen for AT&T and Verizon, which also offer local telephone service in Ohio, said they were reviewing the PUCO's decision, but have not decided whether to follow Cincinnati Bell's lead.