PNA Legal Hotline: Home phone numbers not available through RTK Law
From the PNA Legal Hotline
By Teri Henning, General Counsel
and Melissa Melewsky, Media Law Counsel
Pennsylvania Newspaper Association
Q: The township supervisors do not hold office hours during the work day and work other full time jobs. I’d like to call them at home at a reasonable time. Can I get their home phone numbers via a Right to Know Law request?
A: No, although their home addresses are public under the Right to Know Law. Section 708(b)(6) of the law expressly exempts, among other things, home, cellular and personal telephone numbers. The supervisors’ home telephone numbers may be available through other means, including online or printed telephone directories. Obviously, supervisors may also voluntarily provide their numbers.
Pennsylvania Newspaper Association attorneys provide member newspapers with advice on the state's open records and open meetings laws.
