| Comment Number: | OL-102513 |
| Received: | 11/27/2004 10:52:41 PM |
| Organization: | Stevens Institute of Technology |
| Commenter: | James Light |
| State: | NJ |
| Subject: | Trade Regulation Rule on Telemarketing Sales |
| Title: | Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, Request for Comment |
| CFR Citation: | 16 CFR Part 310 |
| No Attachments |
Comments:
This is simply another invasion into our homes that should not be allowed. The issue is not whether or not the telemarketer is a recording or a human being, the issue is whether or not the citizens wish to be bombarded with these calls day in and day out. Adding a provision that would enable pre-recorded sales pitches is equivalent to giving the thumbs-up for never ending harassment. WIth a pre-recorded telemarketer, how would one ask to be taken off the list? Maybe a menu at the end of the message? So that the citizen will have to listen to the entire sales pitch which would go on and on as long as possible before giving an option to be taken off the list? This is obviously unacceptable. It should also be noted that armed with such a system, telemarketers may easily reach and irritate thousands more people daily as the company is no longer required to even pay the people working their phones. One recorded message can be played on as many phone lines as they have available all day long with little effort of the telemarketing companies. This proposal should not be allowed for it would only serve to unfairly tip the balance in the favor of the telemarketers. We as citizens are already required to pay additional fees for things such as Call ID, just so we can know whether or not to bother answering our phones. Such an increase in power for the telemarketing companies would simply result in more annoying and harassing phone calls to each and every citizen.