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For Immediate Release
06/27/07
Contact: Joe Brenckle - Republican Press Office 202-224-3991
Brian Eaton w/Stevens 202-224-0445
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Truth in Caller ID Act Passes Senate Commerce Committee
Measure Would Address Caller ID Manipulation or Spoofing
 
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Senate Committee on Commerce Science and Transportation has passed S. 704, the Truth in Caller ID Act, which is cosponsored by Vice-Chairman Ted Stevens (R-Alaska). The bill was introduced in February by Senator Bill Nelson (D-Fla.) and Senator Olympia Snowe (R-Maine) and passed the Committee today during an executive session.  The bill now awaits consideration by the full Senate.
 
S. 704 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 Senator Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.) and Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.). 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 critical information to those who rely on it,” said Senator Stevens. “However, when this technology is used to deceive people it can endanger personal privacy and safety.  This bill will help strengthen the ability of the FCC and states to combat these nefarious 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 and/or name. Spoofing refers to the process by which caller ID information transmitted by a telephone call is manipulated to mislead the call recipient about the identity of the caller.  The FCC’s Enforcement Bureau has actively investigated the issue of caller ID spoofing since the summer of 2005.
 
The Truth in Caller ID Act (S.704) would specifically:
 
  • prohibit any person from knowingly 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; and
  • permit state Attorneys General to enforce the FCC’s rules, after notice and opportunity to intervene is provided to the FCC.                                     
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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 -  current Press Release
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 -  Senator Stevens Cosponsors Truth in Caller ID Act
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
 
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