Thanks to the government, you might soon be able to eat your dinner in peace. The Federal Trade Commission is continuing the crusade to legalize a national "do-not-call" registry.
If the registry is made legal, telemarketers will not be able to solicit to phone numbers registered on the list.
The commission is right in fighting for the do-not-call registry, and the government would be smart to make it legal.
Telemarketing is not a welcomed form of business by many people.
Those who do not want to be bothered by solicitors in the privacy of their homes should be able to register their phone numbers to ensure their privacy.
A judge recently ruled the Federal Communications Commission - not the FTC - has the authority to oversee the national do-not-call registry.
While the judge said recently adopted rules make the FTC's creation of the list invalid, he did not order the FTC to stop the list.
Congress is expected to consider the decision before this even goes to print.
If approved, the registry will become an official free government service available to the public as early as Wednesday.
The registry will be a great service to those who are sick of receiving telemarketing calls at inappropriate times.
The practice infringes on privacy and can be considered trespassing to those who do not approve of it.
Under the current rules being pursued by the FTC, telemarketers will be required to check the registry every three months to update who they cannot call.
Those who violate the rules by calling phone numbers on the list would be fined up to $11,000 for each infraction.
Since the creation of the registry in June, 31.1 million phone numbers have been added to the list at the Web site www.donotcall.gov, while 10.9 million were added by calling (888) 382-1222.
The FTC expects the list to block 80 percent of telemarketing calls, except for calls from charities, pollsters and political campaigns.
Though telemarketers say the registry will lead to thousands of jobs being lost, the 41.8 million phone numbers on the list is only a small percentage of the 166 million residential phone numbers and 150 million cell phone numbers in the United States.
The national registry is a fair deal for everyone.
While it allows some people to be blocked from telemarketer's phone calls, there still will be people who do not register that will keep the telemarketing industry alive.
The industry might even have better success if telemarketers are only able to reach those who are interested in being solicited over the phone.
Even if the projected 80 percent of telemarketing calls are blocked, there are other ways for the industry to market its products.
Telemarketing is not a necessary means of advertising.
To be called or not to be called - at least now you might have the option.
