The Federal Trade Commission’s proposal for a national telemarketing do-not-call registry will be the main topic of discussion Wednesday at a three-day rule-making forum the agency is holding in Washington.
Although the forum at the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel will touch on other subjects, including the use of predictive dialers and changes to various deceptive practices rules, the FTC is devoting a full day to explore the creation of the do-not-call list.
Representatives of at least 17 different trade, privacy, law enforcement and consumer groups are scheduled to voice their views on the proposal, how it would work, whether it would adequately protect consumers, and its effect on the existing state-operated telemarketing do-not call lists.
Among those scheduled to participate in the hearing are H. Robert Weintzen, president/CEO, and Jerry Cerasale, senior vice president, government affairs, the Direct Marketing Association; Tyler Prochnow of the American Teleservices Association; Peter Murray of the Not-For-Profit and Charitable Coalition, and Edward Kabak of the Promotion Marketing Association.
Participants will voice their views on whether exemptions should be granted to charities, religious and political groups and businesses that have prior relationships with consumers. Also up for discussion will be if businesses should be allowed to shield their telephone numbers and if the list should include cell phone numbers.
A bill (HR-113) introduced last year by Rep. Rush Holt (D-NJ) would prohibit telemarketers from sending unsolicited commercial messages to cell phones. The measure, which would amend the Communications Act of 1934, is pending before the telecommunications subcommittee of the House Energy and Commerce Committee.
The FTC unveiled its proposal for a national do-not-call list program, expected to be funded by telemarketers, last January as more and more states created such programs. So far similar programs are operated by 28 states and several more are considering the idea.
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