PROFILE AMERICA

July 14, 2008

Cell Phone Courtesy

Monday, July 14th. We’ve all seen them — and heard them. People on cell phones talking in heavy traffic while driving, or loudly discussing very private matters while shopping in the supermarket.

Well, take hope — this is Cell Phone Courtesy Month — a time for those who just have to stay in touch, wherever they are, to pay more attention to the highway and to hold down the volume of their conversation if they’re in a public place.

Cell phones exploded from a novelty to a necessity during the last decade. In 1990, there were some 5 million cell phone users. Now, that number is just over 233 million. That means that about two-thirds of all Americans have a cell phone. Our average bill for this convenience is more than $50 a month.

You can find these and more facts about America from the U.S. Census Bureau online at <www.census.gov>.