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 NEWS  Federal  Communications  Commission  445  12  th  Street,  S.  W.  Washington,  D.  C.  20554  This  is  an  unofficial  announcement  of  Commission  action.  Release  of  the  full  text  of  a  Commission  order  constitutes  official  action.  See  MCI  v.  FCC.  515  F  2d  385  (D.  C.  Circ  1974).  News  Media  Information  202  /  418-  0500  Internet:  http://  www.  fcc.  gov  TTY:  1-  888-  835-  5322 
 For  Immediate  Release:  News  Media  Contact:  September  12,  2002  Rosemary  Kimball  (202)  418-  0511 
 e-  mail:  rkimball@  fcc.  gov 


 FCC  SEEKS  COMMENTS  ON  UPDATING  TELEMARKETING  RULES 
 Washington,  DC  –  The  FCC  has  asked  for  comments  on  whether  it  should  change  its  rules  that  restrict  telemarketing  calls  and,  if  so,  how. 


 In  considering  ways  in  which  it  might  improve  the  telemarketing  rules,  the  Commission  is  seeking  to  enhance  consumer  privacy  protection  while  avoiding  imposing  unnecessary  burdens 
 on  the  telemarketing  industry  and  consumers. 
 In  1992  the  Commission  adopted  rules  to  implement  the  Telephone  Consumer  Protection  Act  of  1991  (TCPA).  In  the  last  ten  years  telemarketing  practices  have  changed 
 significantly.  New  technologies  have  emerged  that  allow  telemarketers  to  target  potential  customers  better  and  that  make  marketing  using  telephones  and  facsimile  machines  more  cost-effective. 
 At  the  same  time,  the  new  telemarketing  techniques  have  increased  public  concern  about  the  impact  on  consumer  privacy. 


 The  Commission  has  asked  for  comment  on: 
 €  Whether  the  FCC’s  rules  need  to  be  revised  to  carry  out  more  effectively  Congress’  directives  in  the  TCPA  that  individuals’  privacy  rights,  public 
 safety  interests,  and  commercial  freedom  of  speech  and  trade  be  balanced  in  a  way  that  protects  the  privacy  of  individuals  and  permits 
 legitimate  telemarketing  practices;  €  Whether  the  Commission  should  refine  its  existing  rules,  or  adopt 
 additional  rules,  on  the  use  of  autodialers,  prerecorded  messages,  and  unsolicited  facsimile  advertisements,  to  account  for  technological 
 developments  in  recent  years  and  emerging  telemarking  practices;  €  The  effectiveness  of  company-  specific  do-  not-  call  lists;  and 


 €  Whether  to  revisit  the  option  of  establishing  a  national  do-  not-  call  list  and,  if  so,  how  such  action  might  be  taken  in  conjunction  with  (1)  the 
 Federal  Trade  Commission’s  (FTC)  recent  proposal  to  adopt  a  national  do-  not-  call  list  and  (2)  the  various  state  do-  not-  call  lists. 
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 The  Commission  noted  that,  should  the  FTC  take  further  action  on  its  proposed  do-  not-call  registry  or  make  other  revisions  to  its  Telemarketing  Sales  Rule,  the  FCC  may  need  to  seek 
 additional  comment 
 Action  by  the  Commission  September  12,  2002,  by  Notice  of  Proposed  Rulemaking  and  Memorandum  Opinion  and  Order  (FCC  02-  250).  Chairman  Powell,  Commissioners  Abernathy, 
 Copps  and  Martin,  with  Chairman  Powell  and  Commissioners  Abernathy  and  Martin  issuing  separate  statements. 
 -  FCC  – 
 CGB  Docket  02-  278 
 Consumer  &  Governmental  Affairs  Bureau  contact:  Erica  McMahon  at  (202)  418-  2512. 
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