Unwanted phone calls may soon be limited

WASHINGTON — People perturbed by telemarketing calls that disrupt dinner or ruin their rest can silence the ringing by enrolling in a new national "do-not-call" list intended to cut off many unwanted telephone sales pitches.

The free service, which could be available by spring, is part of revised federal telemarketing rules made public Wednesday. The rules also require telemarketers to transmit identifying information that can be viewed by services such as Caller ID, and limit the number of "abandoned" calls that hang up or leave people listening to dead air on the line.

The changes are welcomed by Lil Frankel, 71, a retired accountant from suburban Chicago who gets close to 30 telemarketing calls a week.

"It's very annoying," she said. "You're like a prisoner in your own house not knowing whether to answer your phone or not."

The Federal Trade Commission is catching up with at least 27 states, which already have their own do-not-call lists or pending legislation to create one.

The national registry would not stop every call. Only solicitations from certain businesses outside the consumer's home state would be blocked. Charities are exempted.

Regulators believe the service will cover most calls. "Help is on the way," FTC Chairman Timothy Muris said.

A White House statement praised the effort, saying "time with family is a precious commodity, and families should be given the tools they need to help prevent unwanted calls from telemarketers."

The FTC is seeking bids from companies to set up the registry. Consumers will be able to enroll through the Internet or a toll-free number and will have to renew their registration every five years.

Telemarketers will have to check the list every three months to find out who does not want to be called. Those who call listed people could be fined up to $11,000 for each violation.

Muris said consumers will be able to file complaints by phone or online to an automated system supported by the FTC and the Justice Department.

H. Robert Wientzen, president of the Direct Marketing Association, which represents telemarketers, said the new rules unlawfully restrict free speech. He said the group is considering challenging the FTC in court. He also said the registry endangers the jobs of some of the industry's 4 million workers.