Hank Investigates: Directory resistance

Woman on the street
"Your cell phone is supposed to be a more private line."

Hank Phillippi Ryan
"There's no way for someone to find your cell phone number or for you to find theirs."

Man on the street
"I like to keep my cell phone number private."

Hank Phillippi Ryan
"But our investigation found your cell phone number may soon be as easy to access as your home phone."

This company is creating a cell phone directory assistance--a system some worry will invade your privacy--and inflate your phone bill.

Beth Givens - Privacy Rights Clearinghouse
"If your telephone number is in some kind of directory or if it could be sold to third parties you are all that much easier to contact."

Hank Phillippi Ryan
"Here's where it’s happening -Qsent a little known Oregon corporation with a big idea: get cell phone companies to allow access to their subscribers’ numbers."

And by next year- faster than an operator can say -

Operator
"May I help you?"

Make everyone’s cell phone numbers public.

Greg Keene - Qsent
"The goal of this service is to provide 411 service for those who want it and need it, nothing more."

Hank Phillippi Ryan
"But some cell phone users worry that will allow unwanted calls from annoying neighbors, persistent coworkers, or a bad blind date- to send phone bills out of control."

Man on the street
"It would be wasting my minutes and my bill would go extremely high."

Hank Phillippi Ryan
"Plus telemarketers would get a whole new territory."

Hank Phillippi Ryan
"But Qsent promises- customers must choose to be included, it'll be free, cell phone info will not be sold, and no paper directory will be printed."

Greg Keene - Qsent
"It will not be used to power lists, it will not be used to create an internet website, it will not be used to create any other type of service."

Sounds good: but we found breaking that promise--would be perfectly legal--and that has some on capitol hill worried.

That’s why on Capitol Hill, congressman Ed Markey’s pushing his bill to keep phone numbers private-without it, he warns-it’ll soon be open season on your cell.

Hank Phillippi Ryan
"That's why Markeys pushing this bill to keep phone numbers private--without it, he warns--it'll soon be open season your cell."

Rep. Edward Markey - (D) Massachusetts
"The phone companies should have no right to create a directory that allows anyone to call anyone on their cell phone any time they want."

Hank Phillippi Ryan
"We found right now some cell phone companies are still deciding whether they’ll hand over customers’ numbers. So- check with your company to make sure their system will protect you."