Details - Competitive Carriers Association

The Washington Monitor
Page 8
customer retention marketing to keep their video customers from switching providers,
Chairman Martin was disappointed that the Commission “would prohibit these practices,
which promote competition and benefit consumers,” by only one class of companies.
Chairman Martin also expressed fear that the decision will negatively impact rural carriers
and customers in rural America, observing that small rural local exchange carriers may be
forced to interconnect with entities that have no intention of providing telecommunications
to the public or assuming the obligations of a “telecommunications carrier.”
Memorandum Opinion and Order, File No. EB 08-MD-002, DA 08-159, released
June 23, 2008.
FCC RULES AMENDED TO REQUIRE TELEMARKETERS
TO HONOR DO-NOT-CALL LIST REGISTRATIONS INDEFINITELY
The FCC has amended its rules to require telemarketers to honor registrations with
the National Do-Not-Call Registry indefinitely. The previous rules provided that registrations
would expire after five years.
The FCC deemed the action consistent with Congress’s mandate in the Do-Not-Call
Improvement Act of 2007, which prohibits the removal of numbers from the Registry unless
the consumer cancels the registration or the number has been disconnected and reassigned or
is otherwise invalid. The Federal Trade Commission has committed to retain numbers on the
Registry indefinitely.
The rule change minimizes the inconvenience to consumers of having to re-register
their phone numbers every five years and furthers the goal of the Registry to protect
consumer privacy rights.
The FCC encourages telephone companies to convey information on disconnected
and reassigned numbers to the FTC, the administrator of the Registry, in a timely and
accurate manner. The Commission will continue to coordinate with the FTC on additional
ways to improve the Registry’s accuracy.
Report and Order, CG Docket No. 02-278, FCC 08-147, released June 17, 2008.
FCC RELEASES DRAFT STRATEGIC PLAN FOR PUBLIC REVIEW
The FCC is revising its Strategic Plan for 2009-2014 in compliance with the
requirements of the Government Performance and Results Act of 1993. The revised draft
Strategic Plan is a "work-in-progress" available for review at
http://www.fcc.gov/omd/strategicplan/.
The FCC’s strategic goals for spectrum include the following:
● Ensure that the Nation’s spectrum is used efficiently and effectively.