Sec. 16-247s. Directory assistance database. Disclosure and distribution of cellular mobile telephone numbers. - Connecticut Statutes

      Sec. 16-247s. Directory assistance database. Disclosure and distribution of cellular mobile telephone numbers. (a) For purposes of this section, "carrier" means a cellular mobile telephone carrier, a reseller of service provided by a cellular mobile telephone carrier or a retailer of a mobile service, as mobile service is defined in 47 USC 153.

      (b) Each certified telecommunications provider, as defined in section 16-1, that provides local exchange service to customers in the state shall provide without charge to a telephone company serving more than one hundred thousand customers for directory assistance purposes all listings for its Connecticut customers other than those listings that are nonpublished. Such telephone company, or its agent or affiliate as applicable, shall, in accordance with the terms and conditions set forth in the federal Telecommunications Act of 1996, as from time to time amended, and any applicable order or regulation adopted by the Federal Communications Commission thereunder, including the availability and timing of updates and applicable rates, compile all such listings and all listings for its own Connecticut customers other than those that are nonpublished in a directory assistance database and make all such listings contained in such database available in electronic format to directory assistance providers. If a customer requests a customer listing from a certified telecommunications provider that does not provide directory assistance, such provider shall connect the customer at no charge with an entity that provides directory assistance to the customer. Each such certified telecommunications provider shall indemnify a telephone company for any damages caused by that certified telecommunications provider's negligence in misidentifying a nonpublished customer.

      (c) Unless required by law, no carrier may disclose the cellular mobile telephone number, name or address of a customer to another person for use as a listing in a directory assistance data base or for publication or listing in a directory unless such customer authorizes such disclosure in accordance with the provisions of subsection (d) of this section.

      (d) The customer's authorization permitted under subsection (c) of this section shall be obtained through a separate question, given orally, by written record or by electronic means, provided such carrier shall maintain a record or copy of such authorization for as long as the person is a customer of such carrier.

      (e) A customer who gives the authorization permitted under subsection (c) of this section may revoke such authorization at any time. A carrier shall comply with a request to revoke authorization no later than sixty days after receiving such a request.

      (f) No carrier may charge a fee to a customer or refuse to provide service to a person for declining to give the authorization permitted under subsection (c) of this section.

      (g) No person may distribute a directory containing the name or cellular mobile telephone number information of a customer of a carrier who has not given an authorization in accordance with the provisions in subsection (d) of this section.

      (h) Failure to comply with any provisions of subsections (c) to (g), inclusive, of this section shall constitute an unfair or deceptive trade practice under section 42-110b.

      (P.A. 00-221, S. 3; P.A. 01-49, S. 9; P.A. 05-241, S. 1; P.A. 06-196, S. 98.)

      History: P.A. 01-49 made technical changes; P.A. 05-241 added Subsec. (a) defining "carrier", designated existing language as Subsec. (b), and added Subsecs. (c) to (h), inclusive, re disclosure and distribution of cellular mobile telephone numbers, effective July 8, 2005; P.A. 06-196 made a technical change in Subsec. (c), effective June 7, 2006.