Comment Number: 525547-00260
Received: 12/7/2006 6:46:03 PM
Organization: Detective - Brookings Police Department
Commenter: Barbara Palicki
State: OR
Subject: Telemarketing Sales Rule
Title: Request for Public Comment
CFR Citation: 16 CFR Part 310
No Attachments

Comments:

I view this problem both as a citizen and a police officer. Our residents who get numerous hang-ups (dead air calls) make police reports thinking these are from a "specific" person who is harassing them. They are in many cases in fear that the harassment will escalate to contact. These calls, when they attempt to obtain a number, show out of area. In this case - these calls create additional work for law enforcement throughout the country as well as create a harmful atmosphere for the receiving person. Secondly and most serious - these computer calls DO NOT DISCONNECT once started until these are complete. You hang up and go back in a few minutes and they are still "talking". This creates a serious problem should you need immediate access to your phone for a 9-1-1 call. Your husband goes down with a heart attack and you can't get the recording to disconnect. These are actual issues. Thirdly - being an on-call police officer - I have to answer the phone and I feel the same frustration as the others who are deluged with the types of calls. There is no good reason to allow this type of contact and when I place my name on a no-call list I would have assumed that meant NO CALLS, whether human or otherwise. I I appreciate the chance to comment and I hope this helps with the different issues. Det. Barbara Palicki