covert%covert.DEC@decwrl.dec.com (John R. Covert) (03/20/89)
>It takes a court order to get at your bank records. A similar law should be >on the books concerning telephone call records. Just because you gave the >phone company a callee's number in order to complete a call doesn't mean they >should be able to give out your call records without a warrant. Well, Marvin, I wish you were still here in Massachusetts to do battle with N.E.T. As one might suspect, CLID is only the tip of the iceberg. Imagine calling a number in an ad to find out more about a product, (or worse yet, accidentally dialling a wrong number) and being greeted with a recording that simply says "Your new fuzzy dice are on their way!" A few days later they arrive, along with a bill. The laws pertaining to unsolicited merchandise won't apply, because the phone company will have records of your call. Yesterday I received the following notice from the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities: New England Telephone and Telegraph Company ("NET") is proposing to offer a Billing Information Service ("BIS") to Information Providers, entities who offer recorded or interactive services. The service will provide an end user's name, address, and calling number, as well as the called number, date, time, and duration of the call. The DPU will conduct a public hearing on the above matter at its hearing room, #1210 Leverett Saltonstall Building, 100 Cambridge Street, Boston, Massachusetts on Tuesday, 18 April 1989 at 11:00. /john