This is a long video that includes a roundup of what were, at the time, said to be the last remaining payphone enclosures left behind by CityBridge, the consortium of advertising, technology, and media companies that owns a monopoly franchise on New York City’s payphones and LinkNYC kiosks. These are officially known as Public Communication Structures.

A fuller discussion about these booths and why they still exist is found about ½ way through an earlier article: Where Can I Find a Working Payphone in New York City?

The four phone booths on West End Avenue are, according to numerous amended franchise agreements between CityBridge and The City, supposed to be maintained and fully functional. Local calls made from these phones are also supposed to be free. Calls are not free and are, in all likelihood, quite costly.

If you encounter the West End Avenue phones yourself do not be fooled by the dial tone. Attempts to make calls send you to an automated service that appears to let you complete your call using a calling card, credit card, or by calling collect. I did not try to use that service, as I do not even want to know what the cost of calls made this way would cost.

These phones cannot connect to 911.