U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, & Transportation U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, & Transportation U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, & Transportation
U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, & Transportation
RSS Feed
Privacy Policy
Legislation by Congress
109th | 110th
DTV Transition: Information for Consumers
Default Large Extra Large Home Text Only Site Map
Print
Press ReleasesPress Releases
For Immediate Release
06/21/07
Contact: Joe Brenckle - Republican Press Office 202-224-3991
Brian Eaton w/Stevens 202-224-0445
Email This
Print This
Senator Stevens Cosponsors Truth in Caller ID Act
Measure Would Address Caller ID Manipulation or Spoofing
 
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Ted Stevens (R-Alaska), Vice Chairman of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation announced that he would cosponsor S. 704, the Truth in Caller ID Act, sponsored by Senator Ben Nelson (D-Fla.). Senator Stevens made the announcement during a Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee hearing today on the issue. 
 
The bill would make it a crime to manipulate caller identification (ID) information and provide the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) with the enforcement tools it needs to stop this practice. The legislation is also cosponsored by Senators Olympia Snowe (R-Maine) and Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.). Similar legislation in the House, H.R. 251, was introduced by Representatives Elliot Engel (D – N.Y.) and Joe Barton (R-Texas) and passed unanimously. 
 
“Caller ID provides all of us with important information,” Senator Stevens said. “However, when this technology is used to deceive people it means the loss of privacy and increases the possibility of identity theft, which is a major problem in Alaska. This bill will help protect consumers and provide law enforcement with the necessary tools it needs to stop these deceptive practices.”
 
Caller ID services provide consumers with information about who is calling them before they answer the phone by displaying the caller’s telephone number or name. Spoofing refers to the process by which the caller ID information transmitted with a telephone call is manipulated to mislead the call recipient about the identity of the caller. 
 
The FCC’s Enforcement Bureau has been actively investigating the issue of caller ID spoofing since the summer of 2005 when information regarding junk fax spoofing came to its attention.  As of February, the Enforcement Bureau had initiated investigations into at least 12 companies engaged in the marketing and selling of spoofing services to customers.
 
The Truth in Caller ID Act (S.704) would specifically:
 
  • prohibit any person from transmitting misleading or inaccurate caller ID information;
  • require the FCC to prescribe regulations and determine appropriate exemptions, including exemptions for personal safety, law enforcement or court authorized manipulation;
  • require a report to Congress on whether further legislation is needed to prohibit the provision of inaccurate caller I.D. information in technologies that are replacements or successors to voice telecommunications service or I.P.-enabled voice service within six months;
  • provide for penalties of $10,000 for each violation, or three times that amount for each day of a continuing violation, and $1,000,000 cap for any single act or failure to act;
  • permit state Attorneys General to enforce the FCC’s rules, after notice and opportunity to intervene is provided the FCC.
 
« Previous Press Release Press Releases Next Press Release »
 
June 2007 Press Releases  « May | July »   « 2006 | 2008 » 
28th -  Stevens Applauds FDA Ban on Farm-Raised Seafood from China
28th -  Committee Approves Coastal and Ocean Observation System Act
27th -  Truth in Caller ID Act Passes Senate Commerce Committee
27th -  Committee Approves Stevens - Inouye Bill to Encourage Travel to the U.S.
27th -  Senate Commerce Committee Reports Bills Promoting Travel to U.S., Protecting Consumers From Caller ID “Spoofing”
26th -  Inouye Encourages Parents, Industry, Government to Act Together to Lessen Children’s Exposure to TV Violence
22nd -  Vice Admiral Lautenbacher to Testify at NOAA Budget and Oversight Hearing
21st -  current Press Release
21st -  Senate Adopts Bipartisan Fuel Economy Compromise
21st -  U.S. Senate Approves Increase in Fuel Economy Standard [ listen to Audio Clip ]
21st -  Senate Adopts Compromise Fuel Economy Measure [ listen to Audio Clip ]
20th -  Inouye, Stevens, and Dorgan Introduce Travel Promotion Act
20th -  Senate Commerce Committee Announces June 27 Markup
20th -  Statement by Senator Stevens on Introducation of Travel and Tourism Legislation
19th -  Witnesses Announced for Hearing on Energy Efficiency Technologies
19th -  Commerce Committee Releases Witness List for Caller ID Spoofing Hearing
18th -  Aviation Subcommittee Announces Witnesses for Foreign Repair Stations Hearing
18th -  Senate Commerce Committee Announces Caller ID Spoofing, Media Violence Hearings
13th -  Inouye Introduces by Request Administration’s Offshore Aquaculture Act
13th -  The Hill Op-Ed -- Improving public safety communications is matter of life and death in emergencies
12th -  Lautenberg Introduces Maritime Hazardous Cargo Security Act
12th -  Aviation Subcommittee to Hold Oversight Hearing on Foreign Repair Stations
12th -  Oceans Subcommittee to Hold NOAA Budget and Oversight Hearing
12th -  Innovation Subcommittee to Explore Energy Technology Programs
12th -  Senator Stevens Calls for Universal Service Reform
11th -  Commerce Committee Announces Witnesses for Hearing on 700 MHz Auction
8th -  Commerce Committee Announces USF Hearing Witness List
7th -  Senate Commerce Committee Works to Protect Nation’s Oceans, Coastline
7th -  Inouye and Stevens Sponsor Oceans Legislation
6th -  Stevens Recognized as Oceans Advocate by Fishing Associations
6th -  NASA IG Investigation Oversight Hearing Witnesses List Revised
4th -  Inouye: Disappointed with Second Circuit Decision
4th -  Senate Commerce Committee Schedules USF, 700 MHz Action Hearings
4th -  Commerce Committee Postpones U.S. Trade Relations with China Hearing
 
Audio Clip icon Audio Clip | Video Clip icon Video Clip
Public Information Office: 508 Dirksen Senate Office Bldg • Washington, DC 20510-6125
Tel: 202-224-5115
Hearing Room: 253 Russell Senate Office Bldg • Washington, DC 20510-6125
Home | Text Only | Site Map | Help/Faqs | Search | Contact
Privacy Policy | Best Viewed | Plug-Ins
Back to TopBack to Top