PEOPLE

The Southeast Missourian asked people how they felt about a new telephone service, "Caller ID," and whether Congress should play a role in regulating the service which is offered in 12 states. It allows a person to see the telephone number of the caller displayed on a small screen.

Octavia Sparks: "It can be good because you know who is calling you, and you would not have to answer a number that you didn't like. On the other hand, you wouldn't know who could get your phone number and then could call you. I think Congress should stay out of it."

Thomas Knaup: "I would not mind if someone had the ability to see my phone number displayed. However, I think that Congress should put some regulations on it in the interest of people's privacy. It might be fun to know who is calling you, so you decide whether to answer."

Michael Brinkley: "We're talking about privacy on both ends, so Congress should not get involved in it. Let people buy a service to prevent their number from being displayed at the other end. For example, if you don't want your unlisted number to be seen by others."

Linda Ingram: "It would be good to use if someone had a problem of receiving prank calls, and you could use it to screen your calls. It would not bother me if someone could see my number. I think government should stay out of it."

Gilbert Winschel: "It would not bother me if someone could see my phone number. I think Congress already has enough to do without getting involved in this. People could decide if they want it, and they could buy a service to prevent their number from being seen by others."

Becky Etherington: "I would not mind having my number displayed on the other end. You could use it for call screening like an answering machine. It would be a luxury item to have. I don't think it is anything for the government to get in a frenzy about, though."