Culture, Media and Sport CommitteeWritten evidence submitted by Reg Webb [NTC 004]

NUISANCE PHONE CALLS, AND CALL BLOCKING TECHNOLOGY

Those who advocate the use of call blocking technology, whatever its source, commonly promote it in terms of a protection for the elderly and the vulnerable.

While I am 66 years old and totally blind, I am also a self-employed musician who very much resents having his work flow interrupted by callers who range from unsolicited sales callers to criminal scammers. So, in general, I think that call blocking technology is essential to me, both as an expression of my right to a life as free of nuisance as possible, and as a private individual trying to get on with productive employment.

In seeking a general solution for the problem of nuisance calls, it would seem to me better to promote a solution which has accessibility built into it, rather than reinventing the wheel, and offering multiple solutions for different groups.

With this in mind, and with no financial interest in a particular company, I would advocate a solution built on the Truecall box, which enables me as a blind person to program a wide variety of options from my phone handset, following the unit’s voice prompts.

I would be happy to give more detailed evidence, and/or enter into discussion on this issue, since I am a keen technology fan; but technology is only as good as it meets the needs of the user.

July 2013