Editorial: ‘Do not call’ registry needs quick approval

Friday, Jan. 10, 2003 | 4:14 a.m.

WEEKEND EDITION: Jan. 12, 2003

A national "do not call" registry that would provide relief for people receiving unwanted telemarketing calls is being considered in the House Energy and Commerce Committee. Debate over whether to first have a one- or two-year pilot program is threatening a delay that could eliminate any possibility of the program getting started this year. If Congress approves the registry by the end of this month, there would be time this fiscal year to collect operating fees from the telemarketing industry and have the registry established by summer.

We hope Congress puts this issue on a fast track. Tens of thousands of consumers wrote to the FTC asking for a national registry and their concerns should merit a timely response. The Direct Marketing Association opposes this measure and spent more than $1 million lobbying the last Congress. In our view, the letters from people wanting to take back their telephones carry a lot more weight than the money being thrown around by the telemarketing industry. We don't need a pilot program. We need permanent relief, and the sooner the better.