03/11/1993 03:00 PM House L&C

  HB 54:  TELEPHONE CONSUMER PROTECTION                                        
                                                                               
  Number 520                                                                   
                                                                               
  MARIANNE KERR testified via teleconference on her own behalf                 
  in support of HB 54.  She stated she wants to be able to                     
  choose who has knowledge of her phone number and address as                  
  she is a single parent with a small child at home.                           
                                                                               
  Number 530                                                                   
                                                                               
  TOM ROY, ALASKA TELEPHONE ASSOCIATION, testified via                         
  teleconference in opposition to HB 54.  He pointed out that                  
  caller identification service can never be a reality in                      
  Alaska if HB 54 becomes law.  Mr. Roy further stated that                    
  the expense involved in producing and maintaining a list of                  
  the choices customers make is great and the time lag between                 
  the time a person gets a phone hooked up and the publication                 
  of the next telephone book is published can be more than a                   
  year.                                                                        
                                                                               
  Number 588                                                                   
                                                                               
  CHAIRMAN HUDSON asked how the numbers would be presented on                  
  phones and when this new technology could realistically be                   
  available in Alaska.                                                         
                                                                               
  MR. ROY explained that the numbers would appear right on the                 
  screen for the receiving party to see and the technology is                  
  about a year away from being installed.                                      
                                                                               
  Number 602                                                                   
                                                                               
  REP. PORTER asked how random dialing would circumvent this                   
  bill.                                                                        
                                                                               
  MR. ROY answered that telemarketers sometimes employ                         
  computers to randomly call numbers and they don't                            
  differentiate between those who want to be called and those                  
  that don't.                                                                  
                                                                               
  TAPE 93-20, SIDE B                                                           
  Number 000                                                                   
                                                                               
  REP. PORTER noted that he's heard a number of down-sides on                  
  the function of caller ID but hasn't heard any of the                        
  advantages.                                                                  
                                                                               
  MR. ROY replied that the most obvious one is that of                         
  harassing phone calls.  No longer would someone have the                     
  anonymity of calling and not having the receiving party know                 
  where the person is calling from.                                            
                                                                               
  Number 062                                                                   
                                                                               
  REP. BROWN asked if a person's unlisted number would be                      
  disclosed under the caller ID system.                                        
                                                                               
  Number 077                                                                   
                                                                               
  MR. ROY replied yes.                                                         
                                                                               
  Number 081                                                                   
                                                                               
  CATHY SCHINDLER, PROGRAM DIRECTOR, ABUSED WOMEN'S AID IN                     
  CRISIS (AWAIC), testified via teleconference in support of                   
  HB 54.  Ms. Schindler noted that the number one service that                 
  AWAIC provides is a safe shelter.  Ms. Schindler said that                   
  within the caller identification system any subscriber would                 
  be able to determine that a woman was at the shelter if she                  
  called from a shelter phone.  This puts the woman, children,                 
  and shelter workers at risk.                                                 
                                                                               
  MS. SCHINDLER further testified that it is essential that                    
  all shelters be provided with a caller ID blockage at no                     
  charge.                                                                      
                                                                               
  Number 123                                                                   
                                                                               
  CHAIRMAN HUDSON discussed some of the verbiage in the bill.                  
                                                                               
  REP. MACKIE noted that someone could block his caller ID and                 
  make harassing telephone calls without any repercussions.                    
                                                                               
  REP. BROWN answered that while that was true, there were                     
  other ways of finding out the telephone number of a                          
  persistent harasser; i.e., putting a trace on the call.                      
                                                                               
  Number 190                                                                   
                                                                               
  REP. PORTER noted that the technology is there to trace                      
  calls but it has to be established by due process.                           
                                                                               
  Number 197                                                                   
                                                                               
  REP. MULDER asked who provides the list of those who do not                  
  wish to be called.                                                           
                                                                               
  REP. BROWN responded that it would be the local exchange or                  
  any company that produces a telephone book.                                  
                                                                               
  Number 217                                                                   
                                                                               
  CINDY SMITH, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, ALASKA NETWORK ON DOMESTIC                  
  VIOLENCE, testified in support of HB 54, especially Section                  
  1.  Ms. Smith stated that in seeking help and safe shelter                   
  one of the most important facilities a victim has is a                       
  telephone.  Up until now a victim could safely and privately                 
  arrange for shelter, and safely make contact with her                        
  batterer regarding finances, issues of the children, etc.                    
  Ms. Smith noted that unregulated caller ID will have a                       
  tremendous adverse impact on the network and the victims                     
  that seek shelter there.                                                     
                                                                               
  MS. SMITH noted that in other states the costs per customer                  
  for caller ID runs anywhere from $2 to $7.                                   
                                                                               
  Number 305                                                                   
                                                                               
  REP. PORTER asked how many people wanted this service in the                 
  states studied.                                                              
                                                                               
  MS. SMITH replied that between 4 to 8 percent of residential                 
  homes wanted this service.  It's primary usage is for                        
  business.                                                                    
                                                                               
  Number 342                                                                   
                                                                               
  CHAIRMAN HUDSON announced that the chair would take one more                 
  person to testify on SJR 27 and then he would hold the bill                  
  over for more backup and to take more testimony in the near                  
  future.                                                                      
                                                                               
  Number 358                                                                   
                                                                               
  MARCIA MCKENZIE, PROGRAM COORDINATOR, ALASKA COUNCIL ON                      
  DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, testified in support of HB 54.  Ms.                       
  McKenzie echoed Ms. Smith's testimony.