Appeals Court Upholds Do-Not-Call Registry
More Than 55 Million Numbers Registered In 2003
POSTED: Tuesday, February 17, 2004
UPDATED: 4:33 pm EST February 17,
2004
DENVER -- A federal appeals court in Denver upheld the national do-not-call registry.
The 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals rejected arguments that the list violates the free-speech rights of telemarketers. In their decision Tuesday, the judges said the list's limits on speech are not excessive and that they're balanced by the protection of people's privacy.The court said the registry is a "valid commercial speech regulation" because it "directly advances" the government's interest in protecting personal privacy. The appeals court overturns a trial judge's ruling that the list was improper because it bars calls from businesses but not charities.The do-not-call registry took effect in October. It had more than 55 million numbers by the end of 2003.The Federal Trade Commission says the telemarketing industry has been very compliant with the new rules."The telemarketing industry has shown exceptional compliance with the national do-not-call registry," FTC Chairman Timothy Muris said in a statement Friday. "The do-not-call program has been highly successful in protecting consumers' privacy."Muris said that while the agency appreciates the high rate of compliance, it is taking a hard look at the top violators. In 2003, consumers submitted 150,409 complaints about do-not-call violations.
DO NOT CALL LIST |
Appeals Court Decision (Adobe Reader required)Original Decision: Sept. 25, 2003 (Adobe Reader required) Previous Stories:
- February 11, 2004: FTC Looks To Block Telemarketing Calls Sooner
- November 11, 2003: Do-Not-Call List Popular, But Is It Effective?
- November 3, 2003: FCC Proposes $780,000 Fine In Do-Not-Call Violation
- October 16, 2003: Telemarketers Exploit Do-Not-Call Loopholes
- October 8, 2003: Do-Not-Call List Accepting New Phone Numbers
- October 7, 2003: Do-Not-Call List Gets OK To Proceed
- September 30, 2003: Government Closing Do-Not-Call Registration
- September 26, 2003: Government Fights For Do-Not Call List
- September 24, 2003: Court Stops National Do-Not-Call List
Distributed by Internet Broadcasting Systems, Inc. The Associated Press contributed to this report. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Three Disney employees are placed on paid leave pending the investigation into Sunday's fatal monorail crash, according to a Disney spokeswoman.
Days before Austin Wuennenberg was killed in a monorail crash at Disney, he helped make a 4-year-old boy's dream come true.
A clerk at a pizzeria cut himself and falsely reported an armed robbery to cover up his drug habit, sheriff's deputies say.
A former Central Florida middle school teacher who pleaded guilty to having sex with a student is sentenced to five years in jail.
Officials investigate the first fatal accident in the 38-year history of Walt Disney World's monorail.
Since Michael Jackson died June 25, fans from around the world have expressed their grief in flowers, balloons, teddy bears, candles, pictures and handwritten notes left throughout the city.
Thousands flock to a small church in Limerick, Ireland, to pray at the stump of a recently cut tree that many believe looks like the Virgin Mary.
Take a quick look at the flicks headed to your multiplex. Check out the trailer, too.
Email Alerts
RSS News Feeds
Mobile
Live Streams
Slideshows
Video
Search
