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"The American Teleservices Association, an industry group that sued the FTC in January to stop the list, asked the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Denver to reject new regulations set by the Federal Communications Commission."

Hey, I'm sure the judges have had positive experience with Colorado's No Call list. It's amazing, I went from an average of 3 phones calls plus 6 hangups a day to ZERO! It was a night and day difference.

Perhaps they should have filed somewhere else?

Colorado No-Call list You put your phone number in and that's it. They now include wireless numbers as well.

Here in Colorado, we've had a do-not-call list for about a year now, and I find that it has made a significant impact - now the only calls we get are from charities and (in election years) politicians' support-groups. While I still get 2-3 of those a month, it's a far cry from the 3-5 a week we got before then. Any given offender is allowed three strikes before punitive action can be taken.

Just telling solicitors that the number is listed on the Colorado no-call list (in the three cases where it's been needed) has gotten them off the line, and never heard from again.

The problem with the Colorado list is that it allows for these swine to call me if:

• They have an "established business relationship" with me.
  This can mean we've done business, or they have sent me information.
• They are providing "information", and not attempting to sell me something.
  They're spamming me with product info and asking "would you like to speak to a sales representative?", at which point we have a "relationship", which opens the flood-gates.
• They are a charitable organization.
  The tele-marketers haven't figured it out yet, but all they need to do is start an NFP (not for profit) strictly for the purposes of telling me about the for-profit company's products.
• They are a political organization.
  "We represent the 'AT&T is cheaper' party and would urge you to vote for our candidate of choice by signing up for AT&T long distance...."

why does it look like these state do-not-call lists all require residents to pay a fee to be listed?

Haven't done any research on other calling lists, but in my state, Colorado, the Colorado No Call List [2] is completely free. Further, the cost to run it, apparently came out pretty low. It was bid at about $42,000 per year by one company. Considering some 750,000 people signed up for it, in the past year alone, if each even paid a quarter, the cost to maintain the list would be easily covered.

I believe any higher cost would have to be justified in a sort of "total cost to the state" for lost revenues from workers for the telemarketers, resulting sales to both the telemarketers and telemarketed, and resulting tax revenue. Even then, I can't see a reasonable cost exceeding $1.

why does it look like these state do-not-call lists all require residents to pay a fee to be listed?

Haven't done any research on other calling lists, but in my state, Colorado, the Colorado No Call List [2] is completely free. Further, the cost to run it, apparently came out pretty low. It was bid at about $42,000 per year by one company. Considering some 750,000 people signed up for it, in the past year alone, if each even paid a quarter, the cost to maintain the list would be easily covered.

I believe any higher cost would have to be justified in a sort of "total cost to the state" for lost revenues from workers for the telemarketers, resulting sales to both the telemarketers and telemarketed, and resulting tax revenue. Even then, I can't see a reasonable cost exceeding $1.

Super easy online sign up. In fact, you can sign up any phone number, not just yours, so it's good for when you're feeling bored and vindictive, such as after reading this article.

It can take a few months for it to take effect (it's updated quarterly), but it's significantly reduced the number of calls I get at home.

Colorado recently enacted (law went into effect Monday) a No-call list that is maintained by an outside company. Lots of amusing tidbits in this and this article, including that 790,000 people have signed up for the list (sign-up was available before the law took effect), and that 600 complaints were received in the first two days the law was in effect. Fines don't come into place until the third offense, but the AG has already warned some companies to stop.

The Colorado No-call list can be joined here or by calling 1-888-249-9097.

Unfortunately, if you don't already live in Colorado, most of the residents don't want you to move here (if you live here you know what I mean).

If you are Colorado, make sure you are on the Official Do Not Call list. A friend of mine in Colorado signed up for the list in January, and just checked his status after receiving a call that would have been a violation. To his dismay, the status page said he was on the *unofficial* list, and asked if he would like to be on the *official* list, which would then be effective on November first. As this all happened yesterday, he was not happy at having to wait so long when he had already signed up.

For anyone who doesn't know aboutt his, you can use the same url as in the followup (here), and re-enter your info and use the Verify button to check. Would be a good idea to make sure you're on the official list so you really stop getting the calls, and/or really have a case if you get calls again.

In Colorado, it's http://coloradonocall.com. The thing JUST started up this month. Whoo hoo!

The list's web-interface asks for the phone number, zip code, and an email address (for later verification), but in addition to signing-up for the list, also allows you do be removed from the list. What's to stop someone from removing you?

I asked that question of the site's administrator's, and this was the reply:

Return-Path: XXXXX
Received: from [199.45.165.5] (HELO quicka2.QuickInfo)
by guano.org (CommuniGate Pro SMTP 3.5.6)
with ESMTP id 1331876 for XXXXX; Fri, 17 May 2002 09:22:05 -0600
Received: by QUICKA2 with Internet Mail Service (5.5.2653.19) id ; Fri, 17 May 2002 09:20:45 -0600
Message-ID: XXXXX
From: XXXXX
To: XXXXX
Subject: RE: ColoradoNoCall.com
Date: Fri, 17 May 2002 09:20:38 -0600
MIME-Version: 1.0
X-Mailer: Internet Mail Service (5.5.2653.19)
Content-Type: text/plain;
charset="iso-8859-1"

Nothing -- although they would have to know your name and your Zip.

-----Original Message-----
From: Warren [mailto:XXXXX@guano.org]
Sent: Saturday, May 11, 2002 1:39 AM
To: info@coloradonocall.com
Subject: ColoradoNoCall.com

I added my numbers to the list. What's to prevent an unscrupulous telemarketer from removing it?

--

-W

They already know my name and zip code. I even had one recite my credit card number back to me. UnFreakinBelievable.

Colorado also has a no call list. You can sign up using your zip code and phone number here.