Unlisted Lines Won’t Get Automatic Caller ID Block

WASHINGTON — California regulators Monday lost a Supreme Court fight to automatically block so-called caller ID displays of unpublished phone numbers, handing a victory to telephone companies and telemarketers as the state prepares for the introduction of the service to more than 9 million phone customers.

The high court’s action “knocks down one more impediment” for caller ID in California, said Steve Olson, an analyst at Volpe, Welty & Co. The state plans to introduce caller ID service June 1; a continued legal fight could have delayed it.

The court’s decision, which came without comment, is good news for caller ID manufacturers such as New Milford, Conn.-based Colonial Data Technologies Corp. and Morgan Hill, Calif.-based Cidco Inc., Olson said. “It means they will be shipping sooner to California customers.”

State officials say the automatic blocking mechanism is needed to protect those customers’ privacy.

Phone customers in most states can buy caller ID, which displays the caller’s phone number.

The Federal Communications Commission established procedures allowing the person making the call to block the display of his or her number. Under the policy, people can either block the display of all calls made from a line or use a code to block calls individually.

The case acted on Monday involved California customers with unlisted numbers who do not choose a blocking option. The state wants to automatically give them blocking of all caller ID on their lines. However, they could use a special code to unblock particular calls.

California challenged the federal policy, but the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals said the commission could preempt the state policy. A person’s telephone number is not a constitutionally protected privacy interest, the appeals court said.

In the appeal acted on Monday, California’s lawyers said half of its 32 million residents have nonpublished numbers and that many aren’t aware they can block the display of their phone numbers.