Do-Not-Call Registry

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC), in conjunction with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has established a national do-not-call registry for consumers who wish to avoid receiving telemarketing calls. The FTC will administer the national do-not-call registry, but enforcement will be coordinated between the two agencies. Federal enforcement of the National Do Not Call Registry began October 1, 2003. Consumers who placed their telephone numbers on the registry by August 31, 2003 should notice a decrease in telemarketing calls as of October 1, 2003. Consumers who previously registered with the New York State Do Not Call Registry have automatically been registered with the national registry. New York will no longer maintain a separate Do Not Call Registry.

The national Do-Not-Call registry will not prevent all unwanted calls. It will not prevent calls from organizations with which the consumer has established a business relationship; calls for which the consumer has given prior written consent; calls which are not commercial or do not include unsolicited advertisements; and calls by or on behalf of tax-exempt non-profit organizations.

The FCC has also amended its rules, which may also help reduce the number of telemarketing calls to consumers, including: requiring telemarketers to transmit Caller ID information and to unblock their numbers, among other things.

Once a consumer's name appears on the National Do Not Call registry, which will be updated on a quarterly basis, telemarketers will then have thirty days to remove the number from their call lists or be subject to a substantial fine. Consumers are cautioned that if they place their names on the list, it can take up to four months for them to see a reduction in the amount of telemarketing calls received.

Consumers are also reminded that they must re-register with the Do Not Call Registry every five years and if they change their telephone number for any reason, they must also re-register to include their new telephone number.

To sign up for the National Do Not Call Registry, visit www.donotcall.gov or Call the FTC's toll-free number at 1-888-382-1222, for TTY users, 866-290-4236. If you have any questions or concerns about this matter, please call the Crown Point Telephone Corporation at 518-597-3300 or 1-800-828-9221.