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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:  April  15,  2005  Rosemary  Kimball  at  (202)  418-  0511 
 e-  mail:  rosemary.  kimball@  fcc.  gov 
 THE  TRUTH  ABOUT  CELL  PHONES  AND  THE  NATIONAL  DO  NOT  CALL  REGISTRY 


 If  you’ve  received  an  e-  mail  telling  you  that  your  cell  phone  is  about  to  be  assaulted  by  telemarketing  calls  as  a  result  of  a  new  cell  phone  number  database,  rest  assured  that  this  is  not 
 the  case.  Telemarketing  to  cell  phone  numbers  has  always  been  illegal  in  most  cases  and  will  continue  to  be  so.  In  response  to  recent  e-  mail  campaigns  urging  consumers  to  place  their  cell 
 phone  numbers  on  the  National  Do  Not  Call  Registry,  the  Federal  Trade  Commission  and  Federal  Communications  Commission  issue  this  advisory  to  give  consumers  the  facts. 


 One  e-  mail  making  the  rounds  says: 
 “JUST  A  REMINDER...  In  a  few  weeks,  cell  phone  numbers  are  being  released  to  telemarketing  companies  and  you  will  start  to  receive  sale  calls.  YOU  WILL  BE 
 CHARGED  FOR  THESE  CALLS...  To  prevent  this,  call  the  following  number  from  your  cell  phone:  888/  382-  1222.  It  is  the  National  DO  NOT  CALL  list.  It  will  only  take  a 
 minute  of  your  time.  It  blocks  your  number  for  five  (5)  years.  PASS  THIS  ON  TO  ALL  YOUR  FRIENDS...” 


 Another  version  claims: 
 “The  Federal  Trade  Commission  has  set  up  a  "do  not  call"  list.  It  is  called  a  cell  phone  registry.  To  be  included  on  the  "do  not  call"  list,  you  must  call  from  the  number  you  wish 
 to  register.” 
 Here’s  what  you  need  to  know  about  the  National  Do  Not  Call  Registry  program: 
 •  FCC  regulations  prohibit  telemarketers  from  using  automated  dialers  to  call  cell  phone  numbers.  Automated  dialers  are  standard  in  the  industry,  so  most  telemarketers  are 
 barred  from  calling  consumers  on  their  cell  phones  without  their  consent. 
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 •  The  federal  government  does  not  maintain  a  national  cell  phone  registry.  Personal  cell  phone  users  have  always  been  able  to  add  their  numbers  to  the  National  Do  Not  Call 
 Registry  —  the  same  Registry  consumers  use  to  register  their  land  lines  —  either  online  at  www.  donotcall.  gov  or  by  calling  toll-  free  1-  888-  382-  1222  from  the  telephone  number 
 they  wish  to  register.  Registrations  become  effective  within  31  days  of  signing  up  and  are  active  for  five  years.  There  is  no  cut-  off  date  or  deadline  for  registrations. 


 •  Business-  to-  business  calls  are  not  covered  under  the  Registry. 
 For  More  Information 
 To  learn  more  about  the  National  Do  Not  Call  Registry  and  the  rules  that  enforce  it,  visit  the  FTC  at  www.  ftc.  gov  or  the  FCC  at  www.  fcc.  gov  .  For  more  information  about  a  planned 
 “wireless  411”  directory,  visit  http://  www.  qsent.  com/  wireless411/  index.  shtml. 
 -  FCC  - 
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