Satellite News Feed: Thursday, June 26, 2003 4:00-4:30 P.M. Official Launch of National Do Not Call Registry To Be Announced June 27

Consumers wishing to reduce the number of telemarketing calls they receive at home soon will be able to do so on June 27, 2003. The Federal Trade Commission shortly will announce the availability of the National Do Not Call Registry - the free, easy way to reduce telemarketing calls.

Consumers will be able to place a phone number on the registry online or by calling a toll-free number. Consumers nationwide will be able to register online on June 27. If registering online, consumers must provide an email address for confirmation. They will have to open an email and click on a link in it for the online registration to be complete.

To register by phone consumers must call from the number they want to register. The automated telephone registration will be rolled out in two tiers beginning on June 27 for states west of the Mississippi River (including Minnesota and Louisiana) and on July 7 for states east of the Mississippi River. Consumers who place a number on the registry will notice a decrease in telemarketing calls within three months.

For more information please visit www.ftc.gov/donotcall.

Soundbites:

• English Language: David Torok, Attorney, Federal Trade Commission, Bureau of Consumer Protection
• Spanish Language: Sandra Pedroarias, Hispanic Outreach Coordinator, Federal Trade Commission, Bureau of Consumer Protection

Visuals:

• Families of various ethnicities eating dinner and receiving unsolicited phone calls
• Families of various ethnicities walking in house with groceries and answering phone with annoyance
• Families of various ethnicities relaxing in living room and receiving unsolicited phone calls
• People registering via telephone for national registry
• People registering online for national registry
• Shots of Web page

Graphics:

• English and Spanish National Do Not Call Registry logo

Thursday, June 26 4:00-4:30 p.m. EDT

AMC 2, Transponder 7, D/L Freq. 3840 (V)

For more information or to order a hard copy, please contact: Owen Wesley at 1-800-325-8677