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Appeals Court OKs FTC's Do-Not-Call List

GTRacer writes "The USA Today website just posted a report that the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals (Denver) has upheld the FTC's national Do Not Call registry. In their decision, the Court found the list to be 'a valid commercial speech regulation...without burdening an excessive amount of speech.' The telemarketers had challenged the constitutionality of blocking commercial free speech while allowing charities and select others to continue phone solicitation. Interestingly enough, 'Officials in the telemarketing industry did not immediately return calls seeking comment.' Isn't it now obvious these people have a double-standard when it comes to reaching out and touching someone?" The court's decision is available to read.

11 of 216 comments (clear)

  1. Such language! by ackthpt · · Score: 5, Funny
    "in safeguarding personal privacy and reducing the danger of telemarketing abuse without burdening an excessive amount of speech."

    "without burdening an excessive amount of speech"? How about, "an excessive burdening of free speech"?

    Must have been one of those "C" average appointments I keep hearing about.

    'Officials in the telemarketing industry did not immediately return calls seeking comment.'

    Yeah, that's a hoot, but rest assured, their operators aren't exactly standing by on this one, they're probably lobbying like all get out.

    --

    A feeling of having made the same mistake before: Deja Foobar
  2. Great News! by mekkab · · Score: 5, Funny

    Wooooo hooooo! Chalk one up for the little guy. Now if I could just get every other 80's fan from calling my phone number (867-5309-eee-ine) I'd be a happy man!

    P.S.- no, my name is NOT jenny.

    --
    In the future, I would want to not be isolated from my friends in the Space Station.
  3. The real irony is... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Even when I pay Qwest to block telemarketers, THEY call me to sell me stuff.

  4. I'm not a Qwest fan by rjelks · · Score: 5, Funny

    My personal favorite was a call a got a few years ago. A qwest customer service rep. called at dinnertime to sell a new service. The new service in question... blocking telemarketers's calls. I asked her if it would block calls like hers and she told me, "No, you are our customer so we can still call you." I didn't opt for the service.

    -

  5. i know this tactic by theMerovingian · · Score: 5, Funny


    'Officials in the telemarketing industry did not immediately return calls seeking comment.'

    I bet they were just in the middle of dinner, all you have to do is try your call again at 9pm.

    --
    "If you think you have things under control, you're not going fast enough." --Mario Andretti
  6. Of Course. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny
    "Officials in the telemarketing industry did not immediately return calls seeking comment."

    Perhaps we should call them over and over again, just to be sure. Around dinner time, and maybe again later.

    And all hours of the weekend. Definitely then.

  7. Can-Call Act by fembots · · Score: 5, Funny

    Fairly soon we'll have a Can-Call Act 2004 which allows telemarketers to call anyone as long as they identify themselves (hi, this is Mike) at the beginning of the call, and allows callees to opt-out (hang up the phone).

  8. out of order by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Either the DNC lists are working or my phone has been out of order for a while. I'd as a friend to call and check but I only know virtual people.

  9. Does that mean by holzp · · Score: 5, Funny

    we can expect a Do-Not-Slashdot list to follow?

  10. The UK's seems to work by DrSkwid · · Score: 5, Funny


    I registered on the UK's do not call list (a list that's not exactly advertised)

    http://www.tpsonline.org.uk

    I was totally fed up with the weekly telesales calls.

    I registered in September 2002. I've had the letter on my desk ever since, ready to complain.

    It was not until today (nice synchronicity) that I got my first sales call.

    The sales drone thought I was pretty interested in the call, asking for their address and telephone number and the exact nature of the 'wonderful special offer'. Of course, what I was doing was getting the drone to tell me the details required to fill in the online complaint form.

    She sounded genuinely shocked when I said "Thank you, I feel it is only fair to inform you that you are in breach of the Telecommunications (Data Protection & Privacy) Regulations 1999 and as such have just been reported to the TPS".

    hehe well worth the wait :)

    --
    There are places where the networks are not touching,and there are places where they are-Boeing's Lori Gunter
  11. Re:no fun by lrucker · · Score: 5, Funny
    I work for an outsourced Telemarketing company

    You're involved in outsourcing and telemarketing - and you expect sympathy here?