Patrick Leahy: “I support the FTC's authority to establish a Do Not Call Registry, I find myself in good and widespread company. Many in…”

“I support the FTC's authority to establish a Do Not Call Registry, I find myself in good and widespread company. Many in the Senate, like many of my constituents in Vermont, share the frustration that I have with the recent district court decision striking down the Do Not Call Registry established at the Federal Trade Commission. Apparently we in Congress need to make things a little more clear, and this is what we are doing with this legislation: We authorize the FTC to set up and operate such a registry. Vermont has been a leader in protecting the privacy and peace of its households from unwanted telemarketing calls. Federal law currently requires individual companies to remove consumers from their calling lists if the consumers ask them to do so. There is also a national 'telephone preference service' registry to which consumers can submit their names and which telemarketers can consult to avoid calling those who do not wish to hear from them--but industry compliance is entirely voluntary. Two years ago, Vermont enacted a law which gives consumers a private right of action against companies that continue to call after being requested to cease.”