*Pages 1--2 from Microsoft Word - 26569* 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: April 7, 2003 Rosemary Kimball (202) 418- 0511 e- mail: rkimball@ fcc. gov DATES SET FOR COMMENTS ON DO- NOT- CALL IMPLEMENTATION ACT AS PART OF TELEMARKETING PROCEEDING Comments due May 5, 2003; replies due May 19, 2003 Washington, DC – On March 25, 2003, the FCC released a Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (Further Notice) (FCC 03- 62), seeking comment on how the Commission can best fulfill its requirements under the Do- Not- Call Implementation Act (Do- Not- Call Act). The Further Notice asks that comments and replies be filed 30 and 45 days, respectively, after publication of the Further Notice in the Federal Register. The Further Notice was published in the Federal Register on April 3, 2003 (68 FR 16250). Therefore, comments are due on May 5, 2003, and reply comments are due on May 19, 2003. On September 18, 2002, the FCC released a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) seeking comment on whether the Commission’s rules on telemarketing and unsolicited faxes need to be revised in order to more effectively carry out Congress’s directives in the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA). The FCC specifically sought comment on whether to revisit the option of establishing a national do- not- call list. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) released an order on December 18, 2002, adopting a national do- not- call registry and other amendments to its Telemarketing Sales Rule. The Do- Not- Call Act was signed into law on March 11, 2003, requiring the FCC to issue a final rule in its TCPA proceeding within 180 days of March 11, 2003 and to consult and coordinate with the FTC to maximize consistency with the FTC’s amended rule. The Do- Not- Call Act also requires the FCC to issue reports to Congress within 45 days after promulgation of final rules in this proceeding, and annually thereafter. Parties are advised not to reiterate comments previously filed in this proceeding because any previously filed comments, to the extent they are relevant to adopting rules that maximize consistency with the FTC’s rules, will be duly considered. Comments should be filed according to the instructions provided in the Further Notice. The original NPRM and Further Notice can be viewed at: http:// hraunfoss. fcc. gov/ edocs_ public/ attachmatch/ FCC- 02- 250A1.pdf http:// hraunfoss. fcc. gov/ edocs_ public/ attachmatch/ FCC- 03- 62A1. pdf 1 Information on filing comments with the FCC is at: http:// wireless. fcc. gov/ csinfo/ comments. html -FCC- CG Docket No. 02- 278 Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau contact: Erica McMahon at (202) 418- 2512. 2