[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 3]
[House]
[Page 3116]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                       WIRELESS PRIVACY AMENDMENT

  (Mr. PITTS asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. PITTS. Mr. Speaker, yesterday was a good day for the millions of 
Americans who own a cell phone. For several years, wireless phone 
customers have had more and more reason to question the privacy of 
their cell phone numbers. Right now a database of cell phone numbers is 
being compiled by the industry so that companies can offer wireless 
directory assistance in the future, but most Americans would rather not 
have their personal cell phone number made available to just anyone.
  Yesterday after 2 years of effort on this issue, the Energy and 
Commerce Committee unanimously approved my amendment to put the power 
back into the hands of consumers. The amendment simply forbids wireless 
phone companies from disclosing the cell phone number of any customer 
without prior express authorization from the customer. Just common 
sense.
  America is counting on us to do something about this, and we have the 
power to do so. Let us bring this important legislation to the floor 
and protect Americans' privacy rights.

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