Resolution in Favor of Unrestricted Caller ID Service Exposed

The Resolution in Favor of Unrestricted Caller ID Service was included in the 1995 ALEC Sourcebook of American State Legislation. Adoption and approval information is not listed. ALEC has attempted to distance itself from this piece of legislation after the launch of ALECexposed.org in 2011, but it has done nothing to get it repealed in the states where it previously pushed for it to be made into law.

ALEC Resolution Text

Summary

It has been this impetus of substantial and increasing levels of annoying and obscene calls, which violate the privacy and sensibilities of millions of Americans each year, that has spurred the development and deployment of Caller*ID. Technology now permits the “re-introduction” of and “old” feature which allows the rights of called parties to have some information before answering their calls.

Model Resolution

WHEREAS, annoying and obscene calls terrorize millions of Americans and their families each year;

WHEREAS, Caller*ID service uses state-of-the-art telecommunications technology in enabling telephone users to see the number of the calling party before answering the phone;

WHEREAS, Caller*ID has been proven to be an effective deterrent against annoying and obscene calls;

WHEREAS, Caller*ID has been endorsed by many law enforcement authorities because of its effectiveness in reducing annoyance calls without the intervention of the authorities and because of the assistance it provides in criminal investigations, including bomb threats, kidnapping, and extortion;

WHEREAS, withholding the display of telephone numbers would substantially dilute the primary benefit of Caller*ID- curbing annoying and obscene calls;

WHEREAS, withholding the display of telephone numbers would impair Caller*ID’s lifesaving potential because public agencies will continue to use Caller*ID after 911 emergency service is deployed;

WHEREAS, accommodations may be cooperatively determined for those agencies that have compelling concerns;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the legislature of the state strongly supports the implementation of Caller*ID unencumbered by any restrictions. There is indisputable evidence that Caller*ID’s wide-ranging public interest benefits will be maximized by the universal, unrestricted deployment of the service.

ALEC's 1995 Sourcebook of American State Legislation