New York Senator Charles Schumer is warning consumers that a “first-ever” cell phone phone book could disclose consumers’ cell phone numbers without permission and charge a fee for not listing it.
“When word first leaked out that the cell phone industry wanted to create a nationwide cell phone phone book, opposition was almost unanimous because it would be a gold mine for telemarketers, spammers and pranksters who want to drive up your cell phone bills with unsolicited calls,” Schumer, a democrat, said Sunday in a statement.
He said those listed would be “deluged” by unwanted telemarketing calls and text-messages, which cell phone users would have to pay for.
Wireless carriers have been working with their trade organization, the Cellular Telecommunications and Internet Association (CTIA), to develop the directory of phone numbers, which would be accessible by calling 411.
Erin McGee, a spokesperson for CTIA said that the directory “won’t be a print directory, it won’t be available on the Internet and it won’t be available for sale. It will simply be available when someone dials 411.”
All wireless carriers that are going to participate in the program have indicated to CTIA that customers’ numbers will be listed only on an opt-in basis and that they will not charge those consumers who do not want to be listed, she said.
“Nobody will just be rolled into it,” McGee said.
The 411 program is expected to be activated by each individual carrier and is expected to be available at the beginning of next year, she said.
A bill was introduced Feb. 23, 2004 (S-1963) by Sen. Arlen Specter (R-PA) and Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA) to require cell phone companies to get consumers’ permission before their numbers could be added to a public directory and to block cell phone companies from charging customers not to be listed in the directory.
The Federal Trade Commission registers cell phone numbers on its national do-not-call registry, although it has no way to distinguish land-line phone numbers from cell numbers, a spokesperson said. The registry now totals 61.8 million telephone numbers.
Network
