[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 121 (Tuesday, June 24, 1997)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 34015-34016]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-16482]
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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
47 CFR Part 64
[CC Docket No. 91-281; FCC 97-103]
Caller ID
AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.
ACTION: Final rule; petition for reconsideration.
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SUMMARY: On March 25, 1997, the Commission released an Order that
exempts several categories of telephone lines from the Caller
Identification (``Caller ID'') blocking and unblocking rules. The
Commission found that the exemptions from the blocking and unblocking
requirements were warranted because the record stated that the calling
party number (``CPN'') is rarely passed to interconnecting carriers
from certain telephone lines. The Order also affirmed that the
Commission's Caller ID rules and policies apply to party lines, hotel
and motel lines, and call return services, such as automatic call
return (ACR).
DATES: Effective June 24, 1997.
ADDRESSES: Federal Communications Commission, 1919 M Street, NW,
Washington, DC 20554.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kathy Harvey or Debra Harper at (202)
418-2320, Common Carrier Bureau, Network Services Division.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a synopsis of the Commission's
Order, CC Docket No. 91-281, adopted March 21, 1997 and released March
25, 1997. The full text of this decision is available for inspection
and copying during normal business hours in the FCC Reference Center
(Room 239), 1919 M Street, NW, Washington, DC 20554, and may be
purchased from the Commission's copy contractor, International
Transcription Service, (202) 857-3800, 1919 M Street, NW, Washington,
DC 20554. The rules do not impose paperwork collection obligations.
Synopsis of the Order
In this Order we examined the technical and economic feasibility of
requiring carriers to provide blocking and unblocking features. In
response to new information, we re-examined the Caller ID rules and
policies, and modified the rules governing payphones. We also
established new rules to govern local exchange carriers (``LECs'')
without blocking and unblocking capabilities, and private branch
exchange (``PBX'') and related systems. In addition, we affirmed that
our current Caller ID rules and policies applied to party lines, hotel
and motel lines, and call return services, such as Automatic Call
Return (ACR).
After further consideration, we concluded that LECs with SS7, but
without CLASSTM software, are not required to pass the CPN.
We also concluded that, to the extent that a LEC passes CPN to an
interconnecting carrier, it must provide subscribers with blocking and
unblocking capabilities. Additionally, we modified our policies on
payphone lines and found that carriers are not required to provide
blocking and unblocking capabilities on these lines.
We further concluded that PBX and Centrex systems must provide some
type of blocking and unblocking capabilities if, and only if, they pass
CPN to the public switched network (``PSN''). We determined that
Centrex systems that pass CPN to the PSN, and that currently employ *6
or *8 for functions other than blocking and unblocking, may continue to
use such codes. Providers of Centrex service, however, must still offer
users blocking and unblocking capabilities in some manner if CPN is
passed.
Finally, we affirmed that hotel and motel lines not served by a
PBX, and party lines, require blocking and unblocking capabilities and
that carriers are prohibited from processing ACR requests when the
original call was made with a privacy request.
Federal Communications Commission.
William F. Caton,
Acting Secretary.
Rules Changes
Accordingly part 64 of title 47 is amended as follows:
PART 64--MISCELLANEOUS RULES RELATING TO COMMON CARRIERS
1. The authority citation for part 64 continues to read as follows:
Authority: Section 4, 48 Stat. 1066, as amended; 47 U.S.C. 154,
unless otherwise noted. Interpret or apply secs. 201, 218, 225, 226,
227, 48 Stat. 1070, as amended, 1077; 47 U.S.C. 201-4, 218, 225,
226, 227 unless otherwise noted.
2. Section 64.1601 is amended by revising paragraphs (a), (b), (d)
introductory text, (d)(1), (d)(2), (d)(3), and adding new paragraph
(d)(4) to read as follows:
Sec. 64.1601 Delivery requirements and privacy restrictions.
(a) Delivery. Except as provided in paragraph (d) of this section,
common carriers using Signaling System 7 and offering or subscribing to
any service based on Signaling System 7 functionality are required to
transmit the calling party number (CPN) associated with an interstate
call to interconnecting carriers.
(b) Privacy. Except as provided in paragraph (d) of this section,
originating carriers using Signaling System 7 and offering or
subscribing to any service based on Signaling System 7 functionality
will recognize *67 dialed as the first three digits of a call (or 1167
for rotary or pulse dialing phones) as a caller's request that the CPN
not be passed on an interstate call. Such carriers providing line
blocking services will recognize *82 as a caller's request that the CPN
be passed on an interstate call. No common carrier subscribing to or
offering any service that delivers CPN may override the privacy
indicator associated with an interstate call. Carriers must arrange
their CPN-based services, and billing practices, in such a manner that
when a caller requests that the CPN not be passed, a carrier may not
reveal that caller's number or name, nor may the carrier use the number
or name
[[Page 34016]]
to allow the called party to contact the calling party. The terminating
carrier must act in accordance with the privacy indicator unless the
call is made to a called party that subscribes to an ANI or charge
number based service and the call is paid for by the called party.
* * * * *
(d) Exemptions. Section 64.1601(a) and (b) shall not apply when:
(1) A call originates from a payphone.
(2) A local exchange carrier with Signaling System 7 capability
does not have the software to provide *67 or *82 functionalities. Such
carriers are prohibited from passing CPN.
(3) A Private Branch Exchange or Centrex system does not pass end
user CPN. Centrex systems that rely on *6 or *8 for a function other
than CPN blocking or unblocking, respectively, are also exempt if they
employ alternative means of blocking or unblocking.
(4) CPN delivery--
(i) Is used solely in connection with calls within the same limited
system, including (but not limited to) a Centrex system, virtual
private network, or Private Branch Exchange;
(ii) Is used on a public agency's emergency telephone line or in
conjunction with 911 emergency services, or on any entity's emergency
assistance poison control telephone line; or
(iii) Is provided in connection with legally authorized call
tracing or trapping procedures specifically requested by a law
enforcement agency.
[FR Doc. 97-16482 Filed 6-23-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6401-01-P
