(WSB Radio) -- After more than 130 years, AT&T is phasing out the phone book.

The telecommunications giant is taking the first step toward ending publication of the residential white pages by submitting a request to the Georgia Public Service Commission for permission to stop home delivery of the phone book in parts of metro Atlanta. 

Calling it a "substantial hardship" for the company that is no longer necessary, AT&T wants to abandon delivery of the white pages in Atlanta, Chamblee, Decatur, Doraville, Dunwoody, East Point, Hapeville, Lithonia, Sandy Springs and Tucker.

If the PSC approves the request, the change would take effect with the next scheduled phone book delivery in December 2009 and January 2010.

AT&T customers who wish to still receive a hard copy phone book would receive one if they request it. 

In its request to the PSC, the company cites technological advances like Caller ID, wireless devices that store numbers and the Internet for not needing the books anymore.  It also emphasized the environmental aspect of not publishing more than 876,000 copies of the phone book, which it did last year.

AT&T will continue to publish and distribute the business white pages and the Yellow Pages.