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From: dave@westmark.westmark.com (Dave Levenson)
Newsgroups: comp.dcom.telecom
Subject: Re: Many Software Designers of Caller ID Also Disliked it
Message-ID: <74315@bu.edu.bu.edu>
Date: 9 Feb 91 12:38:18 GMT
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X-Telecom-Digest: Volume 11, Issue 101, Message 1 of 13


In article <16723@accuvax.nwu.edu>, folta@tove.cs.umd.edu (Wayne
Folta) writes:

> In Maryland, you can now dial *67 before a call and the CID box shows
> "Private #" on the display. As a (free) counter-feature, I would like
> to be able to have the phone company block all *67'd and otherwise
> private # calls from ringing my phone. If you want to call me (enter
> my house as it were), I believe I have a right to know who you are
> before granting you entrance.
 ...

> [Moderator's Note: The way to refuse calls from blocked numbers is
> pretty simple if you also have call screening. Please note that *67
 ...

Call screening (or Call*Block, as it's called in NJ) has another use,
as well.  You can add the last number that called you, and then have
the system read that number back -- verbal Caller*ID on request,
without having to subscribe to Caller*ID or buy a display device.

Ideally, however, the telco should be required to provide a service
where the calling party is advised that the call is being refused
*because* the calling number is being blocked, and that the way to get
through is to call again without invoking the anonymous-caller
feature.

On a related topic, why is Caller ID considered a privacy issue?
Aren't people confusing privacy with anonymity?  Are the states like
Pennsylvania now asserting that their citizens have the right to
anonymity when they disturb others by telephone?


Dave Levenson		Internet: dave@westmark.com
Westmark, Inc.		UUCP: {uunet | rutgers | att}!westmark!dave
Warren, NJ, USA		AT&T Mail: !westmark!dave
Voice: 908 647 0900     Fax: 908 647 6857


[Moderator's Note: Dave raises some interesting points in his final
paragraph that are probably better suited for Telecom-Priv rather than
here. If anyone wants to respond to him on the last paragraph please
do it in the supplementary list. Regarding the 'instant Caller*ID'
obtained by blocking the last number then having the directory of
screened numbers read back to you, we don't get that here. If you opt
to 'screen last call' by *60 #01# rather than by the specifici] number
(because you don't know it) the system confirms that you have stored
what it terms a 'private entry' which is the way the directory reads
it back.  PAT]