STATEMENT OF 
COMMISSIONER ROBERT M. MCDOWELL
Re: Rules and Regulations Implementing the Telephone Consumer Protection Act of 1991, CG Docket 
No. 02-278.
The Telephone Consumer Protection Act gives us responsibility to protect residential telephone 
subscribers’ privacy rights to avoid receiving objectionable telephone solicitations.  In 2003, we 
established the National Do-Not-Call registry in cooperation with our sister agency, the Federal Trade 
Commission.  Out of an abundance of caution concerning the accuracy of the database, the registrations 
were to be valid for five years.  Over the past four years, the Registry has proven to be an effective 
vehicle to prevent consumers from receiving unwanted telephone solicitations from telemarketers.  In 
fact, consumers have registered over 145 million telephone numbers, and I am one of them.   
Now that we are approaching the five-year mark for the first of the registrations, it is appropriate 
that we consider whether to make the registrations permanent, unless a subscriber cancels the registration 
or the number is disconnected or reassigned.  I look forward to quickly reviewing the comments so that 
we can take action well before the five-year expiration of the first registrations, on June 28, 2008, and 
provide certainty to consumers and continued protection from unwanted solicitations.  I also anticipate 
coordinating with the FTC to achieve our joint statutory responsibilities under the Telephone Consumer 
Protection Act.