From: sbiederman@mentorg.com (Steve Biederman)
Subject: CPSR meeting: "Is It Safe To Call?"
Originator: sbiederman@slipknot
Organization: Computer Professionals for Social Responsibility / Portland
Distribution: or
Date: Sun, 11 Oct 1992 00:21:03 GMT

    Announcing a meeting of Computer Professionals for Social Responsibility

                            Is It Safe To Call?
                       The impact of Caller ID on Oregon

                        Tuesday, October 20th, 8:15 P.M.
                    PSU PCAT, room 28, SW 5th and Montgomery


    Caller ID is a telephone service that allows a person receiving a 
telephone call to see the phone number of the calling phone.  There are
advantages to having such a system -- enhanced reliability of emergency 
service dispatch, ease for businesses of being able to locate pertinent
information for a caller, and so forth.  

    For many valid reasons, however, some people, for at least some of their
calls, do not want to display their phone number on a screen in a remote place.
Will new telephone technologies betray us?  Can the confidentiality of unlisted
numbers be protected?

    Caller ID exposes some people to the possibility of personal harm. A New
Jersey lawsuit filed on behalf of a "Jane Doe" seeks redress for the suffering
experinced by victims of domestic violence who need to keep their location
confidential while making court-ordered calls to protect the visitation rights
of a dangerous and hostile husband.  Can the same thing happen soon in Oregon
when such services are implemented?  That depends on the current round of
public meetings with the Oregon PUC.  

    CPSR members Carl Page and Erik Nilson have been active participants, on
CPSR's behalf, in the process of protecting the public interest in bringing the
next step in telephone services to Oregon.  The current proposals have been
shaped by their input.  They will discuss details and implications of the new
services such as: Caller-ID Name and/or Number issues; The new Call-Trace;
Selective Call Rejection; Last Call Return; and Per-call and Per-line blocking.

    They will also discuss how these services have been implemented in other
states, privacy and safety implications, and the impact on crime.

    Richard Civille, of CPSR's Washington DC office, and a leader in the field
of Community Networks, will be on hand to offer his broader view of
telecommunications issues.  Steve Biederman will update us on what's going on
with CPSR and EFF nationally.


    The meeting will be at 8:15 P.M., on Monday, January 28th, on the Portland
State University campus, in the Portland Center for Advanced Technology (PCAT),
SW Fifth and Montgomery, Room 28.  Walk in on Montgomery between Fifth and
Sixth, or park for free in the PCAT garage by entering the driveway on Fifth
street.  All are welcome.


CPSR Portland,  Box 4332,  Portland Oregon 97208  (503) 293 - 1633


    CPSR is a non-profit alliance of computer professionals concerned
    about the impact of computer technology on society.  As technical
    experts, we are responsible for providing the public with realistic
    assessments of the power, promise, and limitations of computer
    technology.  Issues on our agenda include privacy, computer law,
    technology access, computer safety, military applications, and
    the effect of technology policy on competitiveness and scientific
    freedom.  CPSR has over 2800 members and consists of affiliated
    chapters in twenty cities, from Austin to Seattle, from Maine to
    Santa Cruz.  CPSR also has members or maintains contact with affiliated
    organizations in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Finland, Great
    Britain, West Germany, Italy, the Ivory Coast, Spain, and Thailand.

Xref: sparky or.general:615 pdx.general:1221