Date: Mon, 11 Jul 94 02:13:42 -0700
From: Robert Jacobson <cyberoid@u.washington.edu>
Subject: FCC Called ID Ruling

As the staff analyst who wrote California's Caller ID prohibition,
eventually introduced into law and then PUC regulation, I am appalled
at the FCC's decision.  It is mendacious and harmful of telephone
users generally, and the breadth of state preemption presumed is
reminiscent of the Reagan FCC days.

At the very least, the FCC should require that telephone instruments
be equipped with an automatic, well-labeled call-blocking button that
replaces the awkward, hard to remember *67 (who ever dials three digits,
anyway?).  If the FCC can require telephone systems like SS7 that pass
information, and require ratepayers to underwrite these systems, it can
at least require that the instruments for connecting to these systems
offer a more ubiquitous, easy to use method for enacting per call
blocking.

In general, however, I find the ruling horrific in its bland, bureau-
cratic acceptance of the supremacy of corporate information gathering.
This is chilling to the bone.

Bob Jacobson


