Call 911. Wireless 411 is in trouble

Despite earning the approval of the Senate Commerce Committee, a proposed national wireless 411 directory-assistance service looks dead in the water even before a full congressional vote takes place.

Last month, the committee approved the Wireless 411 Privacy Act, which mandates that wireless carriers cannot add subscribers' mobile numbers to such a directory without their consent. Carriers never really envisioned the directory any other way — all have pledged to keep the directory opt-in only.

But even though the Wireless 411 Privacy Act doesn't really change the proposal originally set forth by carriers, there's a huge difference between a directory regulated by the industry and one regulated by the federal government. Once legislative meddling begins, rarely, if ever, does it end.

Even more crippling to the directory's chances is the adamant opposition of Verizon Wireless to the proposal. CEO Dennis Strigl told the Senate committee, “We think it is a terrible idea, and we will not publish our customers' cell phone numbers or otherwise participate in the plan you have heard about.” Given that 67% of all residential numbers are currently included in traditional landline directory listings, it seems safe to assume that a percentage in the same ballpark would be necessary for wireless 411 to be of any real value to consumers. Yet, with Verizon Wireless' 40.4 million subscribers effectively out of the mix, that's about one-quarter of the estimated 168 million U.S. wireless subscribers eliminated from the outset.

Without Verizon on board, Congress shouldn't waste more time or taxpayer money debating a proposal clearly doomed to failure. Strigl's hardline stance makes little sense — customers should at least be allowed to make their own decisions to opt in or out — but when you're the 800-pound gorilla, your decisions don't have to make sense to anyone but yourself.