A BRIEFING ON PUBLIC POLICY ISSUES AFFECTING CIVIL LIBERTIES ONLINE
from
THE CENTER FOR DEMOCRACY AND TECHNOLOGY
CONTENTS:
(1) Federal Trade Commission Proposes National "Do Not Call" List
(2) How to Submit Comments to FTC
(3) What You Can Do to Stop Telemarketing Today
Americans have said over and over again that they want to be able to avoid telemarketing calls at home. Their concerns range from the simple inconvenience of being interrupted at dinner to issues of fraudulent calls. Some federal rules are already in place that limit the time calls can be made (8am to 9pm) and that prohibit telemarketers from lying or misrepresenting their products. Some states have gone further.
Even with these limits, consumers still get unwanted calls - sometimes several in a single evening.
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is now trying to change that. The Commission has issued proposed new rules for telemarketers. The most important idea the FTC is considering is the creation of a national "do not call" registry. This would be a list that consumers would use to say that they do not want to receive telemarketing calls. Some states have such lists, and some marketers have their own "do not call" lists, but there is no one single place where consumers can go to ask to be taken off all calling lists.
For more background see FTC's Proposed "Do Not Call" Registry Page -- http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/edcams/donotcall/index.htm
Before going forward with such a national "do not call" program, the FTC wants public input. The FTC's full proposal is long and written for lawyers, but the FTC allows email submissions from ordinary citizens. To make it easier for you to make your voice heard in Washington, CDT has broken down some of the issues raised by the Commission and created a special site where you can learn about the issue and file your comments.
Here's how it works: When you follow this link -- http://www.cdt.org/action/donotcall/ftc.shtml -- you'll come to a page with six questions posed by the FTC, with a block for your comments. Answer any or all of these questions. When you are finished, click "send." We'll create an automatic header with the proper official's name and the docket number and send your comments on to the FTC.
As always, we advise against flames.
Note that the FTC's comment process is public, so your comments will become public record. A copy of your letter will also be sent to CDT so that we can make sure that your letter was received by FTC and to eventually compile the best comments. We won't disclose your name or email address without contacting you and getting your express permission, nor will we use your information for any other purpose.
Written comments will be accepted until March 29, 2002. A public forum on the rule changes will be held at the Federal Trade Commission, 600 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Washington, DC 20580, on June 5, 6, and 7, 2002, from 9:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m.
It may be months before the FTC's rule becomes final. Meanwhile, CDT has helped create ConsumerPrivacyGuide.org -- http://www.consumerprivacyguide.org -- an online resource that includes advice on how to get off telemarketing and direct mail lists and other helpful tips on what you can do to protect your privacy.
In addition to CDT, ConsumerPrivacyGuide.Org is sponsored by Call for Action, Common Cause, Consumer Action, the National Consumers League, and Privacy Rights Clearinghouse.
In addition, CDT offers Operation Opt-Out, http://opt-out.cdt.org/ an online resource that helps consumers through the maze of sometimes confusing and hard-to-find opt-out mechanism offered by online and offline merchants and marketers.
Detailed information about online civil liberties issues may be found at http://www.cdt.org/.
This document may be redistributed freely in full or linked to http://www.cdt.org/publications/pp_8.01.shtml.
Excerpts may be re-posted with prior permission of ari@cdt.org
Policy Post 8.01 Copyright 2002 Center for Democracy and Technology
