WASHINGTON-Sens. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) and Arlen Specter (R-Pa.) introduced legislation identical to a House bill that would prohibit the listing of mobile-phone numbers in a national wireless directory without prior consent of existing subscribers.
New wireless subscribers would be treated differently under the bill, having the opportunity to have their phone numbers unlisted free.
The Senate bill mirrors a measure introduced last month by Reps. Edward Markey (D-Mass.) and Joseph Pitts (R-Pa.).
“As a cellular phone user myself, I value the privacy of my wireless number. It should be my decision as to the distribution of my phone number and whether that number should be part of a directory,” said Boxer.
The mobile-phone industry said the legislation is unnecessary because carriers already are incorporating privacy protections into a 411 national wireless directory that will be out next year.
“This is especially important when you consider that wireless users pay for both their incoming and outgoing calls. Customers shouldn’t have to pay for unwanted phone calls because their number is in some directory,” said Boxer.
