WASHINGTON-The Senate Commerce Committee Wednesday narrowly passed legislation meant to protect the privacy of wireless consumers if the industry goes forward with a planned wireless 411 directory.
The wireless 411 privacy act will require consumers to first give their permission before their information can be included in the directory. This permission must be separate from any contracts that may have previously been signed by consumers allowing their names and information to be included in the directory.
Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) said many carriers until recently had standard language in their contracts that allowed them to include customer information in the directory. In a hearing on the bill Tuesday, Boxer specifically quoted contracts from AT&T Wireless Services Inc. AWS changed its contracts in June to remove the directory language, said Boxer.
The wireless industry has said the Boxer bill is a solution in search of a problem.
Verizon Wireless testified Tuesday that it will not participate in the directory.
The bill now goes to the Senate.
