Comment Number: OL-103728
Received: 11/28/2004 3:03:19 PM
Organization:
Commenter: Steve Loughran
State: OR
Subject: Trade Regulation Rule on Telemarketing Sales
Title: Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, Request for Comment
CFR Citation: 16 CFR Part 310
No Attachments

Comments:

The DNC list was the sole thing the FCC has done recently that has improved my life. After it came into effect, the number of calls that came through almost disappeared. And when they did call, because they were always human, you could say things like 'why do I have a 'relationship' with you? and'"never call me again!' Automated phone spam doesn't do this; it is the worst kind of telemarketing ever. And, because it is nearly free, is much more prevalent. The requirement for calling people on the DNC list with a human raises the cost on calling them, and means that callers must be much more selective. You only talk to customers you have a proper relationship with, and you dont call them very often. Changing this rule would render the no-call list almost worthless. I think the final metric of the wrongness of this change is that it was proposed by the direct marketing association. They proposed it, because they want to market more, and try and get round the whole no-call list, a list they opposed in the first place. I do see any consumer associations clamoring for this change.