Bills that permit phone callers to block number ID devices are passed by panels

Article Abstract:

The House Energy and Commerce Committee's telecommunications panel and the Senate Judiciary Committee's subcommittee on technology both have unanimously passed 'Caller ID' legislation. This legislation would require arrangements for blocking transmission of phone numbers to caller-identification devices. Such arrangements would prevent disclosure of a phone number to a called number, and the caller would invoke such a protection by dialing a code before dialing the called number. The subcommittees have rejected 'per-line blocking,' an alternative arrangement that would allow phone company customers to request that their numbers never be transmitted unless codes are received that unblock their numbers. One reason for Congressional concern about automatic number identification has to do with the use of Caller ID to build mailing lists, which can lead to intrusive and unsolicited advertising by telemarketers.

Legislative process, United States. Congress. Senate. Committee on the Judiciary, United States. Congress. House. Committee on Energy and Commerce, Legislation, Caller ID telephone service, Caller ID, Automatic Number Identification (Telecommunications)

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Bell ruling seen touching off legal, legislative battles

Article Abstract:

Judge Harold Greene ruled on Jul 25, 1991 that regional Bell telephone companies will be allowed to enter information services market. Legal and legislative battles now are foreseen, and the outcome is not certain. Lobbyists representing the Consumer Federation of America, the American Newspaper Publishers Association and the International Communications Association of America already have approached Congress, aiming to bypass the courts and establish a new communications policy via legislation. Bert C. Roberts Jr, president of MCI Communications Corp, says his company plans to 'take every step legally that we can to keep the Bell companies out of information services.' One observer says it is the end of a nine-year period during which telecommunications policy was formulated by Judge Greene. Judge Greene was reluctant to rule as he did, fearing anticompetitive practices by the Bell companies.

Political activity, Information services, Competition, American Newspaper Publishers Association, Consumer Federation of America, Greene, Harold, International Communications Association of America

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Wrong numbers: Nynex overcharged phone units for years, an FCC audit finds

Article Abstract:

An FCC audit finds that Nynex Corp has overcharged its own companies in the amount of $120 million. Nynex had set up a subsidiary to buy supplies for the phone companies that Nynex controls. The idea was to save money: the purchasing unit would buy supplies in volume, and savings would be passed on to customers. But profits of the purchasing unit were not regulated, and Nynex apparently charged phone companies inflated prices. This audit could cause trouble for the other Bell operating companies, which want to diversify into other businesses. Bell companies are prevented from long-distance, manufacturing and information services by the consent decree that created the Bells. Bell companies have been lobbying in Congress asking that restrictions be relaxed. Now Congress might be influenced against such deregulation.

Accounting and auditing, Telecommunications equipment industry, Telecommunications equipment, Communications Equipment, NYNEX Corp., NYN

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