House Passes Bill to Protect Phone Numbers

[AnnInLa]

April 26, 2006
BELTWAY BLOGROLL
House Passes Bill To Protect Phone Numbers

The House yesterday passed a bill designed to protect the privacy of telephone numbers -- legislation that was introduced early this year after publicity generated in part by a blogger.

The measure, H.R. 4709, would make it illegal for online brokers to buy and sell individuals' monthly phone records. It would empower both the FCC and FTC to enforce new rules banning "pretexting," the practice of obtaining customers' personal information under false pretenses.

The House passed the legislation on a 409-0 vote. Judiciary Committee Chairman James Sensenbrenner, R-Wis., said on the floor that the bill "provides consumers with important new protections for the confidentiality of their calling records without compromising the legitimate lawful interests of law enforcement, emergency services and cellular telephone service providers" who might need access to the records.

As reported in my Feb. 14 column, the push to protect phone records had languished until early this year. After John Aravosis of Americablog read an article about the issue, he decided to make cell-phone privacy a pet cause.

more at
http://beltwayblogroll.nationaljournal.com/archives/2006/04/house_passes_bi.php

[Daphne08]

1. Wow, they finally did something FOR the people...

Finally.

[dogday]

3. That is exactly the first thought I had....

:hi:

[FloridaPat]

6. Yeah - after Clark found out his cell phone records were for sale.

Can't wait to see what's in the fine print of the bill.

[derby378]

2. And now for the "signing statement" from Nero

He's gonna have to whip up a doozy...

[BlueEyedSon]

4. "if the president does it, its not illegal"

[Ian David]

5. It's the Congressional Mistress Protection Act

Purchase the phone records of Republican politicians NOW before it becomes illegal!

SOMEONE MUST HAVE JEFF GANNON'S CELLPHONE NUMBER! COME ON!!