AB 147

This bill prohibits caller identification (ID) spoofing. Under the bill, no person

may knowingly transmit misleading or inaccurate caller ID information with the

intent to defraud, cause harm, or wrongfully obtain anything of value. The bill also

prohibits telephone solicitors from knowingly transmitting misleading or inaccurate

caller ID information for any purpose, except that the telephone solicitor may

transmit the name of the seller on whose behalf the telemarketing call is placed and

the seller's customer service telephone number, if an individual may call that

number to make a do-not-call request during regular business hours. The bill

creates an exemption for transmissions in connection with authorized activities of

law enforcement agencies or a court order specifically authorizing the use of caller

ID manipulation. In addition, the bill prohibits a telephone solicitor from blocking

the transmission of caller identification information. A person who violates any of

these prohibitions is subject to a civil forfeiture of $100 to $10,000.

The bill also provides that a telecommunications provider may block calls so

that they do not reach the called party if the originating number is not valid; is not

allocated to a provider; or is confirmed by the provider to be unused.