Abstract: Method and apparatus to automatically screen incoming telephone calls, wherein the caller identification (“Caller ID”) transmitted by the telephone company is received, compared to a list of stored caller identification criteria, and a telecommunication device, such as a telephone, answering machine, fax machine or computer modem, is activated or deactivated in response to unwanted or low-priority calls. The Caller ID information transmitted by the telephone company, such as date, time, number and/or name of the calling party, is used as the decision criteria to accept or intercept the call.