There is no reason for legitimate telemarketers to hide their telephone numbers, but often they do, preventing those who have paid for caller id services from screening these unwanted calls. But Tennessee consumers may get some relief from these pesky telemarketers thanks to a bill introduced in the House of Representatives and cosponsored by Congressman Zach Wamp.

H.R. 90, the "Know Your Caller Act of 2001," makes it unlawful for any person making a telephone solicitation to interfere with or circumvent caller identification services. It also directs the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to issue regulations implementing the prohibition.

During the last Congress, Wamp also cosponsored and helped pass H.R. 3100, the "Know Your Caller Act of 2000," but passage of this bill stalled in the Senate. "Telemarketing calls are often an unwanted hassle that can interrupt family or personal time at home," Wamp said. "Sometimes telemarketers try to get around caller id services by blocking their numbers and the business name from the caller id screen. This will give folks in Tennessee and across the country the opportunity to get full use out of their caller id service and avoid unsolicited and unwanted phone calls."