I received this e-mail from California Senator Barbara Boxer:

Dear Friend:

I am pleased to let you know that the Senate’s Commerce Committee has agreed to my amendment that would expand privacy protections for cell phone users. This is very good news for consumers who want to keep their numbers confidential and who do not want to receive or use valuable cell phone minutes on unwanted calls.

Incorporated into a larger consumer telephone record protection bill, my amendment prohibits the listing of cell phone numbers in a wireless directory without the subscriber granting permission. It requires cell phone companies to give consumers clear notice on their right not to be listed and prohibits carriers from charging customers for keeping their numbers private.

There are more than 180 million wireless subscribers in the United States today. Without the protections provided in my amendment, the cell phone numbers of millions of Americans could be at risk. Subscribers not only could face annoying calls and higher bills, but could also have their privacy and security violated by unwanted calls from stalkers or other criminals. As this legislation moves forward, you can be assured that I will keep working to protect consumers.

Sincerely,

Barbara Boxer
United States Senator

I absolutely support this legislation. I’m surprised that cell phone companies would treat us any other way.