Georgia Gov. Signs Wireless Privacy Act

On Tuesday, Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue signed the Wireless Privacy Act which requires wireless providers to obtain a customer's express consent before including his or her name and phone number in any wireless directory or directory database.

"With the prevalence of mobile phones, there is a need to protect Georgians from unsolicited mobile calls by telemarketers and others," said Governor Sonny Perdue. "It only adds insult to injury when you have to pay to receive a junk phone call."

Senate Bill 46 prevents wireless providers from selling lists of any subscribers, listed or not, to telemarketers. The bill also includes the following provisions:

• Requires that the service provider's form for obtaining the subscriber's express consent must be clear.
  
  
• Provides that a subscriber who gives express consent may revoke that consent at any time and a service provider must comply with that request within a reasonable time not to exceed 60 days.
  
  
• Provides that a subscriber may not be charged for electing to be excluded from a directory.
  
  
• Gives consumers a private right of civil legal action if their number is listed unlawfully.

Governor Perdue signed the bill at the Wireless Giant Store in Atlanta. He was joined by the sponsor of SB46, State Senator David Shafer. The bill is effective immediately.