There have been recent news reports suggesting that a Seattle-based company called Intelius has created (or is creating) a cell phone directory, selling "unpublished and unlisted" numbers --including cell phone numbers.  The company has also apparently just filed for an IPO, so it claims not to be communicating externally due to a "quiet period."

As you know, Verizon Wireless has consistently refused to provide our customers' numbers to any directory or third party, and we will continue to refuse to release this info.  Intelius seems to be data-mining on the Internet for private information, which we find entirely unacceptable.  Our stance on the issue effectively halted the industry-sponsored project a few years ago.  (What good is a directory if  65+ million customer numbers aren't included?)  Our position hasn't changed, and we still think a wireless directory is a "dumb idea." 

General Counsel Steve Zipperstein says simply, "Stop it," and urges lawmakers to take steps to protect Americans' privacy rights.