Congress resurrects plans for cellphone directory ban: CTIA: No plans to pursue such a directory

The calendar says 2008, but a wireless directory controversy that’s been resurrected in Congress makes it seem like 2004 all over again.
Sens. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.), Arlen Specter (R-Pa.) and Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) introduced a bill designed to protect cellphone subscribers from being listed without their consent in a national directory they believe cellular industry association CTIA is compiling.
“This bill is good news for consumers because people should have the right to decide who has access to their wireless phone number,” said Boxer. “There are more than 250 million wireless subscribers in the United States today. Without the protections provided in this bill, the cellphone numbers of countless Americans could be at risk. As this legislation moves forward, I will continue to work to protect consumers.”
Specter said the legislation “permits wireless carriers to offer the benefits of accessibility to those who want it, while providing privacy protections that are important to consumers.” Brown agreed, parochially declaring that with more than 6.5 million cellphone consumers in Ohio alone, “we most protect people’s privacy. Cellphone number should never be for sale.”
Just one problem: CTIA scrapped plans to publish a wireless directory in 2004 after sharp criticism by lawmakers and privacy advocates. A subsequent attempt by some large wireless carriers (Verizon Wireless, the big exception) to create a wireless directory was recently abandoned as well.
CTIA President Steve Largent told lawmakers as much in a letter. “In several appearances before the Congress over the past two years, I have clearly stated that we have no plans to facilitate the creation of a wireless directory service, publication, or database.” Moreover, Largent attempted to assure the three senators that mobile-phone carriers are taking steps to improve privacy for wireless subscribers.
Meantime, Intelius Inc. and others market cellphone directory services – without subscriber consent or knowledge – on the Internet. Intelius charges about $15 to find a cellphone number or to match a phone number with its owner. Washington state Attorney General Rob McKenna said he would like state legislation banning such sales of cellphone numbers.