Are you on Do Not Call Registry? Have you enjoyed not having your phone ring all evening? Well you may find those calls returning if you signed up in the early days of the Do Not Call Registry. The Do Not Call Registry began in June of 2003. Since that time, over one hundred and thirty two million homes have signed on to the list. However, the original legislation required that the registry delete individual’s telephone numbers after five years. That means next June fifty million Americans will find their numbers purged from the list unless they resign up. Democratic Congressman Mike Doyle, who is Vice Chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee’s Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet, has introduced legislation that will make the Do Not Call List permanent.

Congressman Doyle said in press release that, The ‘Do Not Call’ list was one of the most popular actions the federal government has ever taken….It makes no sense to force people to sign up again every couple of years. Unfortunately, that’s just what will happen if action isn’t taken.” He went on to say, “I suspect very few people are saying, ‘gee, I really miss getting those telemarketing calls at dinnertime – I wish the government would take me off the do not call list’. That’s why I’m introducing legislation to make the federal ‘Do Not Call’ list permanent.”

Congressman Doyle’s legislation, the Do-Not-Call Improvement Act of 2007, would eliminate the existing expiration of listings on the federal Do Not Call registry. If passed this bill would make it so individuals would not have to worry about signing up for the Do Not Call list every five years. The Do-Not-Call Improvement Act of 2007 would not change the existing law allowing individuals to take their names off the Do Not Call list if they wished to do so.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) manages the National Do Not Call Registry. It is easy enough to go to their website to resign up, but how many Americans will remember that their five years are up and they need to reregister. Congressman Doyle’s legislation will make sure we can enjoy the peace and quiet of dinner with our families without the interruption of telemarketers.