It's Finally Here! Do-Not-Call List Launches

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Kirk

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It's Finally Here! Do-Not-Call List Launches

WASHINGTON -- After a lot of debate, planning and coordination between federal agencies, the government's national "Do Not Call" list for blocking most of the telemarketing calls that disrupt the dinner hour is finally here.

If you'd rather not receive telephone sales pitches, Federal Communications Commission Chairman Michael Powell says: you can say so.

Powell says with one click or one call, you can stop unwanted calls to your home from all over the nation. He called it "an extraordinarily empowering consumer device."

Powell said he expects a big response to the national do-not-call list.

The registry is being launched via a Web site, and soon consumers across the country also will have the option of signing up through an automated phone system.

Some calls will still get through, if you've done business with companies over the last 1½ years or contacted them in the past three months. Charities, surveys and calls on behalf of politicians also are exempt.

The Web site is www.DoNotCall.gov.

The phone number is (888) 382-1222 -- but only in states west of the Mississippi. For states east of the Mississippi, the toll-free phone line registry starts July 7.

Consumers on the list can give written permission to receive calls from certain firms.

President George W. Bush is calling unwelcome telephone sales calls annoying, obtrusive -- and all too common.

He says the new national do-not-call list will help protect the privacy of American families.

Bush says the response so far has been enormous, with an average of 108 people registering every second. He noted Americans can do this without charge -- either by telephone or online.

Spokesman Ari Fleischer said the president believes there's a fundamental issue of privacy involved. He said Bush is concerned about people being in their homes at night and being bothered by telephone sales calls they don't want.

Still, some calls are exempt -- including surveys and calls on behalf of politicians and charities.

Beginning in September, telemarketers will have to check the list every three months to see who doesn't want to be called. Firms could be fined up to $11,000 per violation.

The chairman of the Federal Trade Commission said people who have registered with do-not-call programs in their states may have to reregister with the national program.

Chairman Timothy Muris said the FTC will begin enforcing the law starting Oct. 1.
 

grimfang

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i like the idea, but i think i am missing something here. If i owned a company that used telemarketing, what is going to stop me from picking up the phone book and dialing a number at random? If that number just happens to be on this "do not call list', how would i know unless i agreed to use that list? Is the list enforceable by they FCC or other government agecy? What are the penalties (other than the fines?), if any, for violating whatever guidlines that are set forth now? Are telemarketers required to use this list, or is it vaulentary? Do all telemarketer need to register for this program? How do you report violators? Companies need to check the list ONCE every 3 months.... this is a 3 month grace period for them (which they WILL use agressivly, i am certain)... then they check it, find your name, and leave you alone for 3 months... then, they can just dump the list, start from scratch again ( a hole in the system.) Also, they can just change the name of the company, and start over again, 3 months List Free.

Also... this leads to another question: Will this eventually be extended to internet advertising (SPAM)? I hate that too, I do not use it (much.. i have tried it once, it did not work, i stopped.) If you honestly think that the government will not try to expand this project and apply it to the internet, i suspect that you have a suprise coming. As always, I could be wrong... but i can smell it in the air.

This also brings up a basic First Amendment question (and i assure you, SOMEBODY will file the lawsuit soon... it never fails). Will it be soon be illegal to approach somebody on the street and make a sales pitch? This is a Rhetorical question... will never happen.. but its the next step in the process, following the logic of telephone, internet, NEXT... and will eventually be the argument used in any legal opposition to these "lists".

I really like the idea, and hope it works.. but i have not seen answers to these questions yet. Like i said... maybe i missed something.
 

jfarnsworth

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Well I for one won't miss getting woke up at 11pm for some a-hole wanting to sign me up for something.:mad:
 
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rmcrobertson

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Sounds to me like socialist, unwarranted guv-ment interference in the endless rights of capitalism to screw with your life. And a violation of the right of free market speech.

I'm all for it...thanks, just registered.
 

Bob Hubbard

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anything that might stop the number of these phonecalls, is good IMHO.

Too bad we can't mandate electric shocks for repeat offenders.... :D

Man, I wish I was really a Dark Jedi..... hehehe
 

jfarnsworth

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Originally posted by Kaith Rustaz
Man, I wish I was really a Dark Jedi..... hehehe

Ah yes, the old reaching through the phone and choking them a bit huh?:rofl:
 

Bob Hubbard

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Yup.

Hmm....doubly good thing I cant do that yet....

hehehe
 
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Eggman

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High school dropouts? I have a masters degree and work in investments a vast majority of my business is done on the phone. I had a guy request information from our website so i called him to get a package out to him and he said that i was violating the do not call registry. For crying out loud if you are not interested just hand up the phone or dont answer it. In a time where big companies are laying off people by the thousands this is not the time to federally mandate layoffs in another sector, ie telemarketing. As far as getting called at 11pm, i dont buy it most calls stop at 9. SPAM is a totallly different area but with a more simple solution, DELETE the emails
 

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