Posted on 11/27/2004 3:43:24 PM PST by Graybeard58
The agency overseeing the national Do Not Call Registry is considering opening a loophole in the year-old program to allow companies to deliver "pre-recorded message telemarketing" to American homes.
The Electronic Privacy Information Center, a Washington-based privacy watchdog, says the change could result in the 64 million people enrolled in the list being bombarded by "answering-machine spam" and other unwanted voices on voice mail.
The Federal Trade Commission says the change would have any dramatic results.
Allen Hile of the FTC's division of marketing practices, who is overseeing the proposed rule change, said the measure sought by the Voice Mail Broadcasting Corp. is only intended to bring FTC rules in line with those of the Federal Communications Commission; the FCC rules permit pre-recorded telemarketing messages to customers of companies.
Hile said companies would be allowed to send the messages only to their existing customers or those with which they already have business relationships. If they object to the calls, they would have the "opt out" of receiving further calls, he said.
-- Scripps Howard News Service
Hile added that companies using the method to contact customers would also have to clearly identify themselves in their messages.
The FTC has established the Web site https://secure.commentworks.com/ftc-tsr for the public to comment on the proposed change by Jan. 20.
EPIC says altering the rules of the Do Not Call list at this time is dangerous because telephone technology is changing with the use of virtually cost-free Internet calling. The group says that creates a "perfect storm" to barrage American homes with unwanted telemarketing and answering-machine spam.
The organization says that if the calls are permitted, Voice Mail Broadcasting should be required to get permission from consumers before sending any messages to their telephones, a so-called "opt-in" plan. Telemarketers oppose opt-in proposals. Voice Mail says its technology can send 1.5 million messages a day, and EPIC says that if the loophole is opened, other companies can be expected to take advantage of it as well.
You have seen where the cell phone companies are getting ready to come out with a telephone directory of cell phone users and numbers?
I don't care if it's conservative or not. I don't like telemarketing.
I already get an automated every 2-3 months from some loan company. All they give is an 800 number.
Telemarketing must be paying off someone to get the policy change.
Why do they think MILLIONS signed up for the DO NOT CALL? I heard some reports of 60-100 million signed up. That should be a clue to every politician and policy maker in Washington.
The left just can't distinguish between freedom and anarchy. In this case, there is a victim.
I have had a cell phone for almost 20 years and have never received a call from a telemarketer.
Its too bad we can't get Mr. Hile's home phone number and start calling hime 24/7. I think he'll get the message.
I have already gotten my first of these calls. Someone jumped the gun yesterday.
And now the "do not call list" has become a huge data base for telemarketers.
I'm sorry I signed up for the thing. Ever since I did, my phone starts ringing off the hook starting around 2:30 p.m.
There is a solution though. Get call interecept service put on your phone line. Anyone blocking their ID does not get through. And if they do let me know who they are, they get more than an ear full from me.
We got on the list and it is worthless with a capital W. These jokers ring my phone up to ten o'clock at night. They have made the standard telephone worthless.
I agree that it should be OPT-IN only. Given the hatred for such calls, I'd guess that fees or other benefits would be paid in exchange for opting-in. Want to interrupt my dinner to discuss trading in Peruvian llama futures or dyslexia insurance, show me the money.
Nowhere did the First Amendment said you can go harass people.
marker
Thanks for the hot link! I closed my comments thus:
"I voted for President Bush earlier this month but this rule change is NOT what I had in mind for the next four years!"
So which Congressweasels are caving to lobbyist pressures?
I've managed the junk call problem by paying for an unlisted number for 22 years. Everybody in our family knows that they are NEVER to give the number out to any commercial firm. It's worked pretty well. We get the occasional call from a few charitable organizations and our local newspapers calls us twice a month even though we've subscribed for 20 years.
I somewhat reluctantly registered for the Do Not Call program. I hope to God the FTC doesn't give my number to all the sleazebag telemarketers and undone all my hard work to preserve our privacy.
These are my comments to the Federal Trade Commission.
Rather than the Federal Trade Commission just giving the Voice Mail Broadcasting Corp permission to harrass us during our meals, our childrens naps or our own personal relaxation moments, rare as they are, I have a much better idea.
Require that the Voice Mail Broadcasting Corp mail us each a form with return postage enclosed asking for our written permission to call our telephone numbers where we can designate the time period in which we are willing to accept their recorded messages.
Why must we citizens have our personal time interrupted by a recorded message from someone who has no idea of what that particular moment means to us.
Why should we have to turn the ringers off on our personal telephones when we don't wish to be interrupted by a recorded message?
Please include a substantial penalty for any designated time period violations for which we have not given our signed permission.
Please include in your decision that each call include a telephone number which we can call to immediately report any calls received that are not within our designated time period for which we gave permission.
Please include in your decision that all lower, middle and upper management executives of the Voice Mail Broadcasting Corporation and their customers may not Opt-Out of these intrusive telephone calls during their employment in the Telemarketers Industry.
As you may have already concluded I am against any intrusions into my personal life for which I have not given permission. My having to fill out a form or make a telephone call to Opt-Out is something I consider an unwarranted intrusion.
I do not feel that I should have to use my personal time to tell someone not to bother me.
Sincerely,
Do NOT change the Do Not Call System to allow pre-recorded telephone messages. Whose bribes are you taking that you would allow such a change. Tell me, I really want to know who paid you off. There is no good sense reason why millions of people should be annoyed with calls they DO NOT WANT!!! I've told my phone company that if this change is made, I will disconnect my land line and use only my cell phone. I can not believe you would be such idiots as to even suggest such a thing. Who is paying you off? Who has bribed you? You are as corrupt as they come. That is the only explanation for this.
Here is the link. Let them know what you think.
For Release: November 12, 2004
FTC Seeks Comments on Proposed TSR Amendment On Call Abandonment
The FTC today announced that it will publish a notice in the Federal Register next week seeking comment on a proposal to modify the Telemarketing Sales Rule (TSR) to allow telemarketers to use prerecorded messages when they call consumers with whom they have an established business relationship. The Commission also determined to include in the Federal Register notice a policy statement indicating that, pending completion of the amendment proceeding, the Commission will not initiate an enforcement action against a seller or telemarketer for using recorded messages in calls to established customers if it does so in conformity with the proposed amendment to the TSR.
Excerpted:
MEDIA CONTACT:
Jen Schwartzman
Office of Public Affairs
202-326-2674
STAFF CONTACT:
Allen Hile
Division of Marketing Practices
202-326-3122
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