Late Tuesday, the U.S. District Court in Oklahoma City said the FTC overstepped its authority when it allowed consumers to make their home and mobile phone numbers off-limits to telemarketers. Congress acted swiftly to pass legislation that expresses opposition to the court ruling, and that will allow the FTC to maintain the do-not-call list.  The bill, H.R. 3161, was passed by a wide majority, 412-8.

“As someone whose family dinners have been interrupted numerous times by telemarketers, I was glad to vote for this bill on behalf of all families,” Ross said.  “Contrary to the court’s decision, I believe that when we voted back in February to create this ‘do not call’ registry, Congress gave the FTC full authority to enforce it.  The bill we passed today brings clarity to the issue and specifically permits the FTC to operate the registry.  These calls from telemarketers are unwanted and intrusive, and I know households across our country look forward to being rid of this nuisance.” 

The FTC has already collected 50 million phone numbers from consumers requesting their numbers be placed on the do-not-call list. Under the rule the court blocked Tuesday, Telemarketers would have faced fines of up to $11,000 per call if they phoned any of those phone numbers. 

On October 1, most telemarketers must stop calling phone numbers registered before August 31.  For those who register after September 1, you will have a three-month waiting period before telemarketers will stop calling.  For more information, or to sign up for the “do not call” registry, visit Ross’s website, www.house.gov/ross.