FCC rules expected on phone records

FCC RULES EXPECTED ON PHONE RECORDS
[SOURCE: USAToday, AUTHOR: Paul Davidson]
Four months after Hewlett-Packard's spying scandal, the Federal Communications Commission is expected within weeks to set new rules protecting personal phone records from unauthorized disclosure. The move follows last summer's revelations that investigators for Hewlett-Packard used deception to obtain the phone records of board members and reporters in an effort to identify the sources of news leaks about company matters. FCC Chairman Kevin Martin is recommending the FCC order land-line and wireless phone carriers to require that customers use a password to immediately obtain their calling records from a representative by phone, FCC officials say. Customers also could obtain their records without a password by asking phone companies to send the information to their home addresses, or having a phone company representative call them back at their home or cellphone number of record. Those trying to obtain their calling data online would have to use a password. A majority of the FCC's five commissioners support the proposal, though some details could be modified before the new rules are approved in the next few weeks
http://www.usatoday.com/printedition/money/20070108/1b_phonerecords08.art.htm