Do Not Call list

Yahoo! News reported The cherished dinner hour void of telemarketers could vanish next year for millions of people when phone numbers begin dropping off the national Do Not Call list. The Federal Trade Commission, which oversees the list, says there is a simple fix. But some lawmakers think it is a hassle to expect people to re-register their phone numbers every five years. People can register their home and cell phone numbers or file complaints at http://www.donotcall.gov or by calling 1-888-382-1222.

The registry prohibits telemarketers from calling phone numbers on the list. Companies face fines of up to $11,000 for each violation.

I am on both the state and federal dont call list. But I still get calls.

Organizations engaged in charitable, political or survey work are exempt. Companies that have an established business relationship with a customer also may call for up to 18 months after the last purchase, payment or delivery. In the first week of the program, people signed up 18 million numbers. The registry now has more than 149 million phone numbers.

James Joyner blogged To the extent Congress needs to step in to deal with telemarketing, the opt-out approach is incredibly inefficient. Why not simply outlaw the practice, period, except to people who have specifically opted in? This would, I’d wager, result in a much smaller database and make it far easier for consumers while also making it less likely that companies will be fined for accidental violation.

Betsy Newmark blogged This may have ranked right up there as the best thing that government did for us in the past five years. Now, if the politicians would only remove the exemptions for politician calls. But why should laws about removing nuisances apply to politicians?

I would like to eliminate the exemption for politicians and charities.