Silent nights

Topeka Capital-Journal, The, Dec 20, 2007

In all the furor about the federal spending bill this week in Washington, Senate Bill 2096 didn't draw much attention.

Ultimately, though, it might prove to be one of the most popular pieces of legislation that will come from Congress this year.

Otherwise known as the Do-Not-Call Improvement Act of 2007, the bill is aimed at giving consumers permanent protection from telemarketers.

The act adds teeth to the "Do Not Call" registry by removing a Federal Trade Commission sunset provision that would have required consumers to re-register for the list after Sept. 30, 2008.

"Congress intended that once you signed up for the 'Do Not Call' registry, you were on it until you asked to be taken off," said the bill's chief sponsor, Sen. Byron Dorgan, D-N.D., in a story distributed by The Associated Press. "That's what this bill intends to re-establish. Without it, millions of Americans will either need to start re-registering on Oct. 1, 2008, or get ready to hear their telephones ring during suppertime again with unwanted, commercial solicitation calls."

Permanent relief from telemarketers. Now, there's something that deserves a cheer - or a long sigh of relief, at least.

The Senate passed the bill on Monday, following passage of a similar bill in the House last week. The House version's co- sponsors included Reps. Nancy Boyda, D-Kan., and Jerry Moran, R- Kan. Here's a pat on the back to the two for helping give the measure bipartisan support.

Although there are minor differences between the House and Senate versions of the bill, a spokesman for Dorgan said it shouldn't be too difficult for Congress to iron out the kinks. Final congressional approval is expected this year.

According to a Harris Interactive poll from January 2006, 76 percent of Americans had added their phone numbers to the "Do Not Call" registry. Since its inception five years ago, the list has grown to include more than 145 million phone numbers, including land lines and cell phones.

The direct marketing industry fought the initial registry, leading to a legal battle that ended when the U.S. Supreme Court declined in 2004 to hear a challenge to the list from the American Teleservices Assocation.

But this time, there seems to be less flak coming from the industry. An ATA spokesman has been quoted as saying the industry has learned to live with the list and has worked with Congress in crafting the current legislation.

That might sound a little scary to consumers, and here's hoping the new legislation doesn't create any unforseen loopholes that will let telemarketers worm their way back into our homes.

But on the face of it, anyway, the legislation deserves a ringing endorsement.