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Tauzin To Delay National "Do Not Call" List

Posted by timothy on from the lovely-delay-tactics dept.

akb writes "The Washington Post is reporting that Billy Tauzin (R, LA), powerful chair of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, has told the FTC that he will block their request for funding for the national do-not-call list in order to review the plan. A spokesman said Tauzin does not oppose the creation of the do-not-call list but is concerned with giving the FTC carte-blanche and would like to clarify what the role of the FCC is in the matter. The FTC had hoped the do-not-call list would be implemented by the middle of this year, they said delay in the funding proposal would push implementation back at least 6 months."

4 of 58 comments (clear)

  1. Intro blurb kind of misleading by bmetzler · · Score: 4, Informative

    Tauzin is not wanting to block the do-not-call list. He wants to make sure that it is done the first time correctly. Taking 6 months now to make sure that it starts out right will be a ton better then needing years later to correct issues with the call list.

    Tauzin is also concerned about the overlapping jurisdiction of the FTC and FCC. If the jurisdictional issues aren't dealt with before hand we might end up with 2 do-not-call lists or a prohibitive amount of regulation for companies to deal with.

    If this do-not-call list is going to work, we must stop and make sure that this is being implemented in the most effective manner.

    -Brent

  2. May be good by aridhol · · Score: 3, Informative
    After reading the article, I see the second-to-last paragraph, where they mention the FCC. Basically, the FTC hasn't been talking with the FCC. This means that if the list were to go through in its current form, there are many types of telemarketing that would not be bound by it. This delay is to review the proposal, and to bring the FCC, who controls areas that the FTC doesn't, into the picture.

    To say it plainly: In the current form, a credit card company could call you even if you're on the do-not-call list. Once the FCC is in the picture, that credit card company is also blocked from calling.

    --
    I can't say that I don't give a fuck. I've just run out of fuck to give.
  3. conspiracy fodder by bill_mcgonigle · · Score: 5, Informative

    C'mon, now who really profits from telemarketing? <cough>#2</cough>

    It's just a coincidence, people.

    --
    My God, it's Full of Source!
    OUTSIDE_IP=$(dig +short my.ip @outsideip.net)
  4. Billy has an intellectual interest in this bill? by Futurepower(R) · · Score: 3, Informative


    This story would sound reasonable, except that there is another story in which the facts are easier to check: Telephone Price Wars Called Off. The story says that the long distance companies are losing money and need to raise their rates. I think the truth is that providing long-distance services has become cheaper, and they are only trying to squeeze the customers. Why do I think that? Look at BigZoo. That company is able to make a profit at 2.9 cents per minute and 75 cents per month.

    If you begin to doubt the "telephone companies are poor" story, then it is likely that you will doubt the "Billy Tauzin is only thinking of how to manage this best" story.

    Here is a southern Repbulican man who, even though he is an adult, is still called by the diminutive name "Billy". Is is possible that he would take $16,250 to slow the passage of extremely popular legislation while he tries to stop it? Has such a thing ever happened before? Or, is it true that Billy is taking an intellectual interest in the bill?

    Did this whole idea of having a do-not-call list jump into reality last week? No, it has been around for a long time. Billy Tauzin could have "studied" it before.

    A lot of newspaper stories are really paid advertisements for a point of view the payers want you to believe.