SENATE RESOLUTION

                         1991-8647

By Senator Thorsness

     WHEREAS, Advances in telecommunications technology should be encouraged to provide benefits to consumers in the State of Washington; and

     WHEREAS, New technology enables caller identification services that include the ability to identify the name, number, and location of the person making an incoming call; and

     WHEREAS, These services have the capability to lessen illegal and harassing calls and protect the privacy of those who receive telephone calls; and

     WHEREAS, These services also have the potential to affect the privacy of individuals who may have a legitimate need to keep private their telephone number or location when they make a call, such as people who have unlisted numbers, victims of harassment or abuse, law enforcement officials, and others involved in sensitive occupations; and

     WHEREAS, Concern exists over the capability of building a data base of personal information keyed to a telephone number as an identification number; and

     WHEREAS, The utilities and transportation commission has indicated that they will consider requiring any caller identification service to offer the ability of a caller to block sending the caller's identifying information to the number being called; and

     WHEREAS, This type of technology is evolving quickly and products have already been developed that in some cases can override the caller's ability to block outgoing identifying information and other products exist that will prevent the completion of a call in which the caller is blocking the caller's identifying information;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Senate support the efforts of the utilities and transportation commission to report to the legislature, on at least an annual basis any requests by telecommunications companies to offer caller identification services, the amount of consumer interest in these services, and the extent to which new telecommunications technology related to these services may pose a threat to the privacy of telephone users.

I, Gordon A. Golob, Secretary of the Senate,

do hereby certify that this is a true and

correct copy of Senate Resolution 1991-8647,

adopted by the Senate April 10, 1991.

GORDON A. GOLOB

Secretary of the Senate