PlainBillCongress, translated.Legislation. Context. Public interest.Committee on Judiciary. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
Congressional Research Service
Version 00 · Introduced in Senate · Mar 18, 1993
Telephone Privacy Act of 1993 - Amends the Federal criminal code (Code) to prohibit any person from installing or using a pen register or a trap and trace device without first obtaining a court order under appropriate Code provisions or under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978. Provides exceptions to such prohibition, including in connection with the provision of caller identification service (caller ID). States that nothing in this Act affects the provision or use of caller ID or charge number information by a provider of electronic or wire communication service. Provides for civil actions and criminal penalties for violations of this Act's prohibition. States that this Act is not intended to endorse or facilitate the use of blocking of caller ID by originators of obscene or harassing telephone calls or to limit the enforcement of laws prohibiting such calls. Requires any Government entity to publish in the Federal Register and have printed in the appropriate phone directory notice of its use of caller ID. Provides a similar requirement for State and local governmental entities.
People & committees
Sen. Kohl, Herb [D-WI] · D–WI
Legislative record
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Committee on Judiciary. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Judiciary.
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S3176-3178)
Introduced in Senate
Primary sources
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Source last updated: Aug 10, 2026. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.
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Analyze S.612 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.
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