FTC eyes national do-not-call database

The Federal Trade Commission today issued a request for information for the creation of an electronic do-not-call registry for consumers. The proposed database would contain the telephone numbers of consumers who notify the commission that they do not want to be contacted by telemarketers. Several states already operate similar do-not-call lists.FTC is reviewing its Telemarketing Sales Rule and has asked for public comment on the do-not-call proposal. In its RFI, the commission listed five criteria:In the request, the commission suggested that consumers could register their telephone numbers via an automated call-in function.The commission also said it expects law enforcement agencies to have access to the system via a secure Web site. It left open the possibility that consumers could be charged for the service and that some state lists had attracted registration rates of up to 40 percent of all telephone lines.