The sounds of telephones ringing off the hook with annoying
businesses and salespeople on the other end should be reduced for
now, after the national do-not-call list went into effect again
yesterday.

While the Federal Communications Commission pushed the registry
into effect, how long it will remain in effect is yet to be
determined. The Federal Trade Commission, the original supporter of
the registry, is currently in legal proceedings concerning the
registry.

Last week, Lee R. West, U.S. District Judge from Oklahoma City,
ruled that the FTC lacked the authority to set up a list that would
shield consumers from telemarketers. U.S. District Judge Edward W.
Nottingham in Denver blocked implementation of the list, ruling
Thursday, Sept. 25, that it violated a telemarketer’s
constitutional right to free speech.

In response, Congress passed legislation that ordered the FTC to
establish and operate a phone number registry to block
telemarketers from making unwanted calls to consumers.

President George W. Bush signed the legislation on Monday, Sept.
29, allowing the FTC to set up a national do-not-call list that
could lead to fines for telemarketers.

The FTC promised that consumers would see a reduction in
telephone sales pitches. Telemarketers plan on respecting the
wishes of those on the list and not soliciting those on the
list.

The list contains more than 50 million residential and cellular
telephone numbers submitted by those who do not want to by bothered
by telemarketers. The list was originally intended to block about
80 percent of telemarketing calls. Exemptions include calls from
charities, surveys and pollsters, calls on behalf of politicians
and calls from businesses with which consumers have had a previous
relationship.

People who wish to be added to the registry can still sign up
for the list and file complaints about telemarketers at
www.donotcall.gov or 1-888-382-1222.

Currently Saint Louis University operates under Missouri’s
do-not-call list. Last year, the University contacted Missouri
Attorney General Jay Nixon and was placed on the list. This means
that all University numbers are protected from calls from
telemarketers.

“Saint Louis University’s Office of the General Counsel is
currently evaluating the impact of recent judicial and legislative
developments under the Telemarketing and Consumer Fraud Abuse
Prevention Act. Until legal issues regarding the enforceability of
the federal Act are resolved in the courts, the University will
continue to comply with the requirements of the Missouri No Call
law,” said Kenneth E. Fleischmann, Associate General Counsel,
Sr.