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Caller ID in California
``` [The public information campaign to inform California consumers about their Caller ID options should be a model for many other occasions when people need to express choice about matters that affect their privacy. This only happened because dedicated volunteers such as Jeff Johnson of CPSR hassled the Public Utilities Commission during the long-drawn-out CNID rule-making process to ensure that the public interest was at least somewhat represented, and because academics like Brenda Dervin of Ohio State University did some heavy lifting to ensure that the information campaign was legitimate and not a PR whitewash. The real public-interest solution, an opt-in system where full blocking is the default and the companies are free to persuade people to sign up for the service, did not occur. But this campaign is still progress, at least by the sorry standards of US privacy policy, and it is fitting that the country's foremost center for consumer education on privacy issues should be part of it...]
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Date: 08 Apr 1996 11:35:15 -0700 (PDT)
From: Beth Givens
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Beth Givens April 4, 1996 (619) 260-4160
CALLER ID: COMING SOON TO A PHONE NEAR YOU Privacy Rights Clearinghouse Funded to Conduct Education Campaign
The Privacy Rights Clearinghouse joins a statewide campaign in California to spread the word about the privacy impacts of Caller ID. It is one of 43 consumer-related organizations to receive grant funds from Pacific Bell and GTE as part of the massive consumer awareness campaign required by the California Public Utilities Commission.
"Telephone privacy is precious to many Californians," said Beth Givens, director of the Privacy Rights Clearinghouse. "Half of the households in the state have unlisted numbers, the highest percentage of any state."
Starting June 1 in California, telephone numbers will be transmitted when calls are made. Those who subscribe to the Caller ID service and who purchase a special display device will be able to see and capture the calling party's number. Phone users who do not want their number to be released can take advantage of blocking options, offered free. The purpose of the consumer education campaign is to alert consumers to those blocking options -- Complete or Selective Blocking (called Per Line and Per Call Blocking, respectively, in other states).
"Our job, and that of the other grantees, is to reach people who might not be aware of the announcements on TV, the radio and newspapers," said Givens. "The Clearinghouse is especially concerned about those who are at risk from the release of their phone number -- victims of domestic violence and stalking, and the shelters which serve them; people who want to remain anonymous when calling hotlines for AIDS counseling, suicide- prevention, and the like; and people in professions like law enforcement, mental health counseling, and teachers who need to shield their phone numbers when calling clients from home."
The Clearinghouse offers an 8-page guide called "Caller ID and My Privacy." Consumers can call (800) 773-7748 (California only, elsewhere 619-298-3396) to order. The guide provides an in-depth discussion of the many privacy implications of Caller ID.
The Privacy Rights Clearinghouse is a grant-funded program administered by the University of San Diego Center for Public Interest Law. In operation for over 3 years, it has received 33,000 calls from California consumers. It offers 19 guides on a variety of consumer privacy issues, including privacy in cyberspace, telemarketing, credit reporting, government records, workplace privacy and medical records.
NOTE: The fact sheet "Caller ID and My Privacy" is on the Clearinghouse's Web site: URL:http://www.acusd.edu/~prc (Click on fact sheets / English / number 19.)
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Beth Givens Voice: 619-260-4160 Project Director Fax: 619-298-5681 Privacy Rights Clearinghouse Hotline (Calif. only): Center for Public Interest Law 800-773-7748 University of San Diego 619-298-3396 (elsewhere) 5998 Alcala Park e-mail: bgivens@acusd.edu San Diego, CA 92110 http://www.acusd.edu/~prc ```
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