FCC Taking More Hands on Role with Do Not Call List

By Oliver VanDervoort
Contributing Writer

The Federal Communications Commission’s job has long been one that changes with the times and adjusts depending on where the market needs it most. While federal laws do limit the FCC’s (News - Alert) powers to some degree, the commission can issue rules over the companies and markets it governs with near impunity as long as it is obvious that it is not overstepping its bounds.

 The commission has made several rules changes over the last year and has looked at making even more changes, though movement on more. One rule change which the FCC seems to be getting ready to move on is to take a longer and more direct look at the federal do not call tracking list.

The FCC is saying that taking control of this list will allow the commission to better track information and enforce the rules that come with the list. The FCC will not be taking over management of the entire list, but will rather get control and the ability. The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has agreed to allow access to the FCC for this particular endeavor.

The FCC has been trying to strengthen the rules behind the nation do not call list and earlier this year had added some new policies.   Among the new rules was one that required prior express written consent for all autodialed or pre-recorded telemarketing calls to wireless numbers and for all pre-recorded telemarketing calls to residential lines. This rule change alone is one that the FCC could have its hands full making sure is being enforced as telemarketers change the way they attempt to gain access to potential customers. Another rule that people should be relatively happy with is one that has telemarketers include an automatic “opt-out” function that a person who has been called can use during the actual call. This allows a person to terminate the call and make it be known they don’t want to be contact again.