Telemarketer Interceptor

Mandate that, upon written request, every telephone company must offer, for a small subscriber fee, an intercept message. Similar to the intercept provided when a customer’s number is changed or disconnected, the recorded message would say, “The number you have called, nnn-nnn-nnnn, is listed on the National Do Not Call list. If you are a telemarketer, you could be reported to the Federal Trade Commission and be assessed a fine of $,000. To allow this call to be connected to the number you called, press “_.” The calling number of every caller who does not elect to be connected is then accumulated on a monthly report that is provided to the FTC as suspicious telemarketer activity.

The form that the telephone company would require to be submitted by the customer in order to activate this service would contain the following information:

Telephone number ----____ Customer name as it appears on your bill (print) ___________________________________ Address City, State Zip

“Under penalty of Federal Law __, I do solemnly swear that I have listed the above telephone number on the National Do Not Call list. I agree to pay the monthly fee of $__ required to intercept all calls received during the period (choose only one) __ from _(date)_ to _(date)__

__ until further notice”

(signature) (date) (witness/address/telephone)

Other Suggestions:

Pass new laws prohibiting phony caller ID numbers/names.

Pass new laws prohibiting distributing, selling or otherwise sharing a telephone number list unless specifically authorized by the party paying the bill for the telephone number(s). The law should directly affect Equifax, Experian, TransUnion, etc., who are purported to be selling telephone numbers for megabucks.

Mandate that telephone solicitors receive education re telephone solicitation laws/penalties and purchase a license before becoming employable.