Jay Inslee: Washington's 1st Congressional District

Issues

Protecting Your Privacy

Maintain Your Privacy
Sign Up On The National Do Not Call List!

27 June 2003

As your Representative in Congress, I wanted to alert you to the new "do-not-call" registry that allows you to prevent unwanted telemarketers from calling your home or cellular phone.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) recently launched a long-awaited nationwide registry for residents who want to block unsolicited advertising via their home and cellular telephones. Under the recently announced rules, you can list your numbers on the do-not-call registry for free. Telemarketing companies will have until October 1, 2003 to remove registered numbers from their databases, and after that they may be subject to enforcement in the form of fines of up to $11,000. If you do not want telemarketers calling you, add your phone number to the registry via the Internet at www.ftc.gov/donotcall or call this toll-free number (888-382-1222) to register your phone number.

Commercial telemarketing is covered by the rule except for polling, surveys, and calls from political or charitable organizations. The rules also allow calls from firms with existing business relationships with consumers.

Your privacy is one of my highest priorities in Congress. For more information regarding my work to protect your privacy, please visit my privacy web page.