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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.
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.
