A group representing the telemarketing industry has filed a lawsuit to block the national do-not-call
list, saying it would cost two million jobs and would violate their rights under
the First Amendment, the San Jose Mercury News reports.
The American Teleservices Association (ATA) said it asked U.S. Circuit Court
of Appeals in Denver to reject regulations adopted by the Federal Communications
Commission allowing the creation of a "do not call" registry, according
to the newspaper. Interstate telemarketers would be prohibited from calling
phone numbers on that list.
"Two million jobs will be lost, and we don't see them coming back,'' says
Tim Searcy, executive director of ATA.
Since opening about a month ago, the registry has received about 28.7 million
phone numbers from consumers, who can submit their information via telephone
or Internet.
The Federal Trade Commission will start enforcing the list in October. Violators
could face up to $11,000 in fines, according to the newspaper. In the rules,
there is an exemption for calls from some organizations, including charities
and political organizations.
The telemarketing industry has filed a number of other challenges to do-not-call
lists. All the cases are pending court action, according to the newspaper.
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