The national "do-not-call" registry is long overdue. The business community has abused American citizens' right to privacy by invading the  telephone lines which we, the citizens, pay for. Incidentally, we are citizens first and foremost and consumers a small percent of the time. When I am talking with a friend I am not a consumer. When I am taking a bath I am not a consumer. The language of the rule should respect the citizenry of this country and not refer to them as "consumers." To refer to citizens as "consumers" indicates a pro-business bias.

A telephone number should remain on the national "do not call" registry until the citizen ("consumer") requests that it be removed.

Whoever's name is on the phone bill (and spouse and adult children of that person) should be permitted to request that a telephone number be placed on the "do not call" registry.

No security measures are necessary to ensure that only those people who want to place their telephone numbers on the "do not call" registry can do so. Nonetheless, consumers be able to verify that their numbers have been placed on the registry via a symbol/message on their phone bill.

The "do not call" registry should be an "all or nothing" option, otherwise telemarketers will find a loophole to bypass the law.

The proposed rule that would permit consumers or donors who place their name and telephone number on the "do not call" registry to provide express verifiable authorization to specific sellers or organizations to make calls to them will affect those entities with which a consumer or donor has a pre-exisiting relationship to little or no extent.

The effect on citizens ("consumers") will be a retreival of privacy and control over our own tekephone.

The Rule will have little or no impact on individual firms (and on industry in general) that have always treated consumers with respect and honesty.

No changes should be made to the proposed Rule to minimize any cost to industry. Consumers have already paid a large price in lost time, inconvenience and irritation.

The proposed Rule would have little or no effect on small business entities with respect to costs, profitability, competitiveness, and employment. Unsolicited calls  create little income for business but a large amount of irritation for consumers.

Thank you for the opportunity to comment,

Christopher Palms