Federal Communications Commission FCC 07-203 STATEMENT OF CHAIRMAN KEVIN J. MARTIN Re: Rules and Regulations Implementing the Telephone Consumer Protection Act of 1991, CG Docket No. 02-278. Today’s action tentatively concludes that telephone numbers registered in the National Do-Not-Call Registry will not expire after 5 years. The Commission continues to move forward to protect consumers who have registered their telephone numbers on the Do-Not-Call list. Consumers expect their telephone numbers to remain protected under the Do-Not-Call list until they have cancelled their registration or their telephone number is disconnected or reassigned. At the direction of Congress, the National Do-Not-Call Registry was adopted to make it easier and more efficient for consumers to prevent unwanted telemarketing calls. Since the opening of the National Do-Not-Call Registry was announced in June of 2003, over 145 million telephone numbers have been placed on the Registry. However, if the Commission does not take action, millions of telephone numbers may expire leaving millions of consumers without protection from unwanted telemarketing calls. Today’s action sets us on a path to minimize consumer confusion for those consumers that have chosen to avoid unwanted telemarketing calls. I expect the Commission to evaluate the record we develop and move forward in a timely manner to ensure that consumers registered on the National Do Not Call Registry continue to maintain the privacy they deserve.