STATEMENT OF 
COMMISSIONER DEBORAH TAYLOR TATE
Re: Rules and Regulations Implementing the Telephone Consumer Protection Act of 1991, CG Docket 
No. 02-278.
I have been a strong supporter of the Do-Not-Call program as a state commissioner and certainly 
as a consumer.  Dinner time is a lot quieter and the program has been wildly popular with consumers.  In 
fact, in Tennessee alone, more than 3 million phone numbers have been listed since the establishment of 
the Tennessee program in 1999. The Tennessee Regulatory Authority (TRA) has been extremely vigilant 
in responding to complaints and has issued enforcement actions against violators exceeding $300,000. I 
am very proud of the work done by the TRA and many other state commissions that oversee state 
programs. 
Likewise, the federal government established a Do-Not-Call program in 2003.  As in Tennessee, 
the Do-Not-Call program has been extremely popular, with over 145 million consumers registering their 
telephone numbers, and has been very successful in curbing the number of unwanted telemarketing calls.  
Unfortunately registered numbers will begin to expire next year and that is why our action today 
is so important.  I am committed to working with Congress and the Federal Trade Commission in taking 
whatever steps are necessary to ensure that this important protection remains an effective means for 
consumers to be free of unwanted telephone solicitations.