Protecting Telephone Anonymity

By offering a device that would identify a caller, we are taking one more step toward the day when our lives are monitored totally by Big Brother.

This plan would almost negate the benefits afforded by having an unlisted telephone number and possibly subject telephone users to a rash of unwanted solicitations. I feel that there should be public hearings conducted by the Public Utilities Commission, so that everyone may have the opportunity of airing their opinions and that we are able to carefully weigh all the aspects of such a program.

There is no doubt that being able to identify a caller has many benefits, particularly in the case of obscene, crank calls and overzealous salesmen. However, the price we pay in our loss of privacy may be too great. The telephone has been a wonderful invention that has greatly enhanced our lives, but it can also be an intrusive method to deprive us of privacy and anonymity. Some safeguards must be offered before we are able to reap the benefits of this system.

BYRON SLATER

San Diego