Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, July 7, 1995 TAG: 9507070068
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B-3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: RICHMOND LENGTH: Medium
News stories last week about the company's plan to sell customers' names, addresses and phone numbers prompted irate customers to complain that they would become the prey of annoying telemarketers.
``In light of the public confusion over how they might be impacted by our selling lists, [Bell Atlantic-Virginia] has chosen to continue our current policy of not selling published residence customer lists,'' said H.R. Stallard, the company's president and chief executive officer.
``However, customers should be aware that this decision will not have any impact on their privacy. Customer lists will continue to abound from other sources, including from those firms who copy our directories.''
Stallard added that marketers can use computer and online services to get their hands on information about consumers easily.
The company has not sold any existing residential listings, but has sold lists of new residential subscribers to outside marketers since May 1994.
Del. George Grayson, D-Wiliamsburg, was among those objecting to the plan. He sent a letter to Stallard asking him to reconsider.
Grayson told Stallard the plan would increase the number of ``junk'' telephone calls and fuel support for anti-junk-call legislation he and many constituents support.
``I believe that the proliferation of unwanted calls that your intended action would spark would greatly improve the odds for an anti-junk-call legislation that my constituents, at least, favor by a 9-to-one ratio,'' he said.
Bell Atlantic has 2.1 million residential subscribers. About 20 percent of the numbers are unlisted and would not have been sold.
by CNB