As US West Inc starts a trial of the Caller ID service, controversial for no good reason (CI No 1,617), in the UK, the only caller identification systems on sale are those in which the caller has to punch in their phone number for it to be recorded at the other end – described by one British Approvals official as glorified answer machines. But the introduction of ISDN-2, which takes digital lines into the local loop, is likely to prompt discussion about ID systems proper. In the light of ISDN, the European Commission is currently considering a draft directive on the issue. The directive states that the telephone company offering the service must offer callers that do not want their numbers disclosed the opportunity to opt out of the system – in which case it seems their calls will likely go unanswered. US West is offering this facility through a blocking code which must be dialled with each call. But Commission’s proposals are clear that the onus should be on the caller to opt out. Mr De Cockbourne of the Commission says the directive still has to go before the Council and the Parliament for approval. Nothing will emerge until the end of the year even if everything goes smoothly. And he noted that a smooth passage is unlikely on a controversial issue. In the meantime legislation is up to member states. The systems are banned in France and Germany, but in UK the situation is described as vague by the British Approvals Board for Telecommunications because there aren’t enough systems on which to make a judgement.
