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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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State
Rep. Keith McCall State
Rep. Todd Eachus |
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Eachus & McCall: No deadline to register cell phones on the ‘do-not-call’ list
HARRISBURG, April 3 – State Reps. Todd Eachus, D-Luzerne, and Keith McCall, D-Carbon, said an e-mail sent to many residents claiming that cell phones must be registered with the National Do-Not-Call List by a certain date or those cell numbers will be turned over to telemarketers is not true.
"There is no plan for telemarketers to get a list of cell phones, but this e-mail can do some good," Eachus said. "If you haven’t registered your home or cell phone on the ‘do-not-call’ list, this could be a reminder that you have the power to keep interruptions to a minimum."
The e-mail claims that "10 days from today, all cell phone numbers are being released to telemarketing companies and you will start to receive sales calls and be charged for them."
"What’s really happening is that the mobile phone service providers are getting together to start a 411 Directory Assistance program for cell phones," McCall said. "But anyone who owns a cell phone would have to choose to be part of the directory, and even if a user did list his or her number, it would only be available to the 411 Directory Assistance operators, not to telemarketers."
The lawmakers also noted that current Federal Communications Commission regulations prohibit most telemarketing calls to cell phones, but consumers can still register the number to get the most protection from unwanted calls.
To register a phone number with the National
Do-Not-Call List, visit www.donotcall.gov
or register by telephone by calling 1-888-382-1222 from the phone number you
want on the list.
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