WASHINGTON-California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) signed legislation requiring mobile-phone carriers to obtain consent from consumers to list their phone numbers in an upcoming 411 wireless directory, despite voicing displeasure with a bill provision creating additional paperwork for wireless operators.
The bill, signed into law Friday and the first of its kind in the nation, requires carriers to obtain customer approval for wireless directory listings on a separate document that must be physically signed and dated by each subscriber.
“This overly burdensome provision does not take into account modern business practices developed for consumer ease and greater business efficiencies such as digital files and over- the-phone approvals,” said Schwarzenegger in signing the bill. “I look forward to working with the legislature next session to revise the consent provision to represent actual modern-day business practices.”
Consumer advocates applauded the new law.
“California is the first state to approve this important consumer privacy measure, and we commend Gov. Schwarzenegger for signing this into law,” said Janee Briesemeister, director of Consumers Union’s EscapeCellHell.org campaign. “Congress should enact a similar national law because consumers across the country, not only Californians, deserve these protections.”
Briesemeister said Consumers Union supports the consent provision that Schwarzenegger wants changed. “Existing federal law already enables consumers to sign contracts online, so this should not be an issue for wireless companies,” she said.
Congress is working on national legislation to give the nation’s 170 million mobile-phone subscribers privacy protection as the cellular industry nears the launch of a new 411 wireless directory. But industry is not unified on the initiative. Verizon Wireless, the No. 1 mobile-phone operator, opposes the directory.
Tomorrow the House Commerce Committee expects to hold a hearing on the Wireless 411 Privacy Act.
Last week, the Senate Commerce Committee approved legislation to allow consumers to control their cell numbers and to prohibit wireless companies from charging new fees to keep their numbers private. The Senate bill was amended by Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) to require that existing and new customers opt-in-that is, give their permission first-before their phone numbers can be included in the 411 directory.
The House bill would require existing customers to opt-in, but new customers would still be included in the directory unless they tell their carriers not to include them.
Consumers Union prefers the Senate bill to the House measure.
“All customers should have the right to give their permission first before having their phone number made public,” said Susanna Montezemolo, policy analyst with Consumers Union.
