FCC rules require phone companies to make available without charge, simple, and standardized per-line blocking and unblocking processes for the consumer community. These rules give everyone the choice of delivering or blocking their phone number for any interstate (between states) calls you make. (The FCC does not regulate intrastate calls.) The Federal government can only control things that cross state lines. If the communications are intrastate the FCC rules cannot be enforced. With that said the companies generally comply with the FCC because it would be complicated to separate the interstate and intrastate networks.

Caller ID services can transmit the name of the caller but that will depend on the phone company/ "Calling Party Number" (CPN) system that is deployed and the information that has been provided to the system. If you request that your phone number be concealed, FCC rules require that a carrier also conceal your name.

The two blocking options are:

• Per-Line Blocking. (Also known in some states as Complete Blocking.) Some states allow customers to select per-line blocking so that their phone number will be blocked for every call they make on a specific line unless they use the per-line unblocking option. If you want the number transmitted to the called party, dial *82 before you dial the number you are calling. You must redial *82 each time you want to unblock.


• Per-Call Blocking. (Also known in some states as Selective Blocking.) To block your phone number or name from appearing on a recipient Caller ID unit on a single phone call, dial *67 before dialing the phone number. Your number ordinarily will not be sent to the other party. (See exceptions below.) But you must redial *67 each time you place another call.

Exceptions to Blocking:

Several exceptions exist to the FCC blocking rules: 800 number /toll-free calls. You are not able to prevent the display of your phone number when you call 800, 866, 877, 888, and 900 numbers. The called party, which pays for the call, may be able to identify the phone number using Automatic Number Identification (ANI) system. FCC rules, however, limit parties that own toll-free numbers from distributing the numbers identified through ANI.

Emergency services. Calls to emergency lines such as 911 are exempted from federal Caller ID rules. When you call emergency numbers, your phone number is transmitted even if you have Per-Line Blocking. In fact, the display device used by emergency services usually shows not only your phone number, but also your address so that police, fire and ambulance services can locate you in case you are unable to provide the address.

Telemarketers. Under FCC rules, telemarketers are required to transmit Caller ID information and are prohibited from blocking such information. If you find that a telemarketer has called with a blocked number please get the company name along with as much information as possible. This information should be reported to the proper authorities.

Which is the Best Blocking Option

Your local phone company will assign you Per-Call Blocking unless you specify Per-Line blocking. So it's important to make your choice known.

Per-Line Blocking If: To lower the High risk of the a phone number being revealed, choose Per-Line Blocking, called Complete Blocking in some states including California. Phone number will automatically be blocked for every call you make when you select Per-Line Blocking, though you may unblock individual calls by pressing *82 before dialing the number.

Per-Line Blocking Benefits:

• An unlisted phone number. In other words, you've already decided that telephone privacy is so important that you are willing to pay a monthly fee to keep your number private. You do not want your number being captured by people and businesses you call.
• Any victim of harassment and must block your number at all times.
• A member of a profession in which the privacy is important. You may at times need to make work-related calls from home and want to ensure that the persons called are not able to reach you there.
• You operate a domestic violence shelter or a safe home and must safeguard the phone number and location of the residents.
• You want to report crimes to the police department's Crime Tips Line but wish to remain anonymous.
• You have occasion to call a "help" hotline and want to remain anonymous. Such hotlines include those for suicide prevention, AIDS information, immigration assistance, and mental health issues.

Per-Call Blocking. Low risks listed above, you may wish to choose Per-Call Blocking. Phone number will be sent to the parties you are calling unless you enter the code *67 before you dial.

Situations in which Per-Call Blocking may make sense include:

• Most of the people you call from home are friends and family. Those who subscribe to Caller ID do not like to pick up the phone unless they see the phone number of the caller.
• You live alone, have few visitors, and are very careful about your use of Per-Call Blocking. You're not likely to forget to enter the Selective Blocking code *67 when you need to shield your number.
• You do not really know how you feel about phone number privacy, so you choose Per-Call Blocking on a trial basis to see how it works for you. You might change to Per-Line Blocking in the future if you find that you prefer a higher degree of privacy.