MystyPines
June 26th, 2003, 04:38 PM
FCC Strengthens Anti-Telemarketing List
- Reuters
By Andy Sullivan
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Federal Communications Commission (news - web sites) on Thursday tightened rules that will allow consumers to stop unwanted telemarketing calls into their homes as the White House prepared to unveil the popular measure. FCC commissioners voted 5-0 to support a planned "do not call" list of households that do not want to receive telemarketing calls, one day before President Bush is scheduled to launch the effort in a Rose Garden ceremony. Prompted by thousands of consumer complaints, the Federal Trade Commission announced the list last year, and Congress approved it shortly afterward.
Consumer advocates have worried that the list would be laden with loopholes without the support of the FCC, which oversees the nation's telephone system.
But at a meeting Thursday morning, all five FCC commissioners enthusiastically endorsed the program, saying they too were plagued by unwanted dinnertime sales pitches.
"This is the most sweeping consumer-protection measure ever adopted by the Federal Communications Commission," FCC Chairman Michael Powell said at the meeting.
Starting on Oct. 1, telemarketers who call households on the list will face penalties of up to $11,000 per call. Consumers will also be able to sue telemarketers directly for damages up to $500 per call.
Consumers will be able to sign up for the list through a toll-free number or a Web site starting next week. Consumers will not have to pay for the list, as it will be funded by telemarketers.
FCC endorsement fills a number of gaps in the program, roping in banks, telephone companies, insurance companies and other heavy telemarketers who fall outside FTC jurisdiction. Sales calls made within one state will fall under the new rules, setting a national baseline above which states can set tougher guidelines if they wish.
But exceptions remain. Nonprofit and political callers will not have to comply with the new rule, and businesses will be free to call customers for 18 months after a sale, though they must honor consumer requests not to be called back.
The move drew a mixed response from telemarketing groups that have lobbied furiously against the list.
The Direct Marketing Association said telemarketing companies would have an easier time complying with one national do-not-call list, rather than the dozens of state-specific registries.
The American Teleservices Association said the agency bowed to political pressure to impose unconstitutional restrictions on the industry, and did not consider the 2 million telemarketers whose jobs will be put at risk.
"You don't know who's interested in an offer until they have an opportunity to hear it," said ATA Executive Director Tim Searcy. "It implies that consumers can make a choice prior to having a choice to make."
The FTC maintains a home page for the list at (www.ftc.gov/donotcall), containing a link to the National Do Not Call Registry, which it said will go live on Friday.
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=569&ncid=738&e=1&u=/nm/20030626/tc_nm/telecoms_telemarketing_dc
- Reuters
By Andy Sullivan
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Federal Communications Commission (news - web sites) on Thursday tightened rules that will allow consumers to stop unwanted telemarketing calls into their homes as the White House prepared to unveil the popular measure. FCC commissioners voted 5-0 to support a planned "do not call" list of households that do not want to receive telemarketing calls, one day before President Bush is scheduled to launch the effort in a Rose Garden ceremony. Prompted by thousands of consumer complaints, the Federal Trade Commission announced the list last year, and Congress approved it shortly afterward.
Consumer advocates have worried that the list would be laden with loopholes without the support of the FCC, which oversees the nation's telephone system.
But at a meeting Thursday morning, all five FCC commissioners enthusiastically endorsed the program, saying they too were plagued by unwanted dinnertime sales pitches.
"This is the most sweeping consumer-protection measure ever adopted by the Federal Communications Commission," FCC Chairman Michael Powell said at the meeting.
Starting on Oct. 1, telemarketers who call households on the list will face penalties of up to $11,000 per call. Consumers will also be able to sue telemarketers directly for damages up to $500 per call.
Consumers will be able to sign up for the list through a toll-free number or a Web site starting next week. Consumers will not have to pay for the list, as it will be funded by telemarketers.
FCC endorsement fills a number of gaps in the program, roping in banks, telephone companies, insurance companies and other heavy telemarketers who fall outside FTC jurisdiction. Sales calls made within one state will fall under the new rules, setting a national baseline above which states can set tougher guidelines if they wish.
But exceptions remain. Nonprofit and political callers will not have to comply with the new rule, and businesses will be free to call customers for 18 months after a sale, though they must honor consumer requests not to be called back.
The move drew a mixed response from telemarketing groups that have lobbied furiously against the list.
The Direct Marketing Association said telemarketing companies would have an easier time complying with one national do-not-call list, rather than the dozens of state-specific registries.
The American Teleservices Association said the agency bowed to political pressure to impose unconstitutional restrictions on the industry, and did not consider the 2 million telemarketers whose jobs will be put at risk.
"You don't know who's interested in an offer until they have an opportunity to hear it," said ATA Executive Director Tim Searcy. "It implies that consumers can make a choice prior to having a choice to make."
The FTC maintains a home page for the list at (www.ftc.gov/donotcall), containing a link to the National Do Not Call Registry, which it said will go live on Friday.
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=569&ncid=738&e=1&u=/nm/20030626/tc_nm/telecoms_telemarketing_dc