Washington, D.C. - U.S. Congressman Kevin Brady (R-The Woodlands) voted today to keep the Federal Trade Commission's (FTC) Do-Not-Call List on track to take effect October 1.  Brady a long time advocate of consumer privacy rights issued this statement:

 

"Over Fifty million American households have signed up for the national Do-Not-Call list to protect their privacy and homes from unsolicited phone calls from telemarketers.  When families in Texas, and across the country, sit down for dinner at the end of a busy day, the last thing they need is a call from someone they don't know selling them a product they don't necessarily want," said Brady.
         
House Energy and Commerce chairman Billy Tauzin (R-LA) introduced a bill late Wednesday night that gives the FTC authority to operate the Do-Not-Call list, authority called into question by U.S. District Judge Lee West on Tuesday.  Without Congress' swift action, the Do-Not-Call list slated to go into effect on October 1 would have been postponed until the ruling could be appealed in court.

 

The free national Do-Not-Call List was launched in June by President Bush in cooperation with the FTC.  Since opening up the list for national registration in June, over 50 million American households have registered their number.  According to the National Do-Not-Call Registry,  Texas will not share the numbers on its existing state do not call list with the national registry.   As a result, Texas consumers who want their number on the National Do-Not-Call Registry must register their phone numbers on line at www.donotcall.gov or by calling 1-888-382-1222.

 

Companies that call people on the list could be find up to $11,000 for each violation.  With 166 million residential phone numbers in the U.S. and another 150 million cell phone numbers registered to Americans, it's easy to see why this issue is a top priority for consumers and a potential target for exploitation.