Timeline of Do-Not-Call Registry

FTC issues a notice of proposed rule making to create the Do Not Call Registry.

14 consumer organizations file comments in support of the Do Not Call Registry.View those comments.

FTC issues a notice of proposed rule making to impose fees on telemarketers to access the Do Not Call Registry.

FTC holds a workshop on changes to the Telemarketing Sales Rule. View the agenda.

FCC issues a notice of proposed rulemaking on the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA). This is a federal law that regulates telemarketing and fax advertising and requests comments on creating a national Do Not Call registry.

11 leading consumer groups file comments with the FCC which advocate the Do Not Call Registry. View their comments.

Mainstream Marketing Services, Inc., TMG Marketing Inc., and American Teleservices Association file a complaint in the U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado seeking to invalidate the Do-Not-Call Registry. View this complaint.

U.S. Security files a complaint in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma seeking to invalidate the FTC's Do-Not-Call Registry.

The FTC issues new rules establishing a nationwide Do-Not-Call Registry.

Congress passes The Do-Not-Call Implementation Act to allow the FTC to collect fees in order to operate the Do Not Call Registry.

Stonebridge Life Insurance Company files suit seeking declaratory and injunctive relief against the FTC's Do-Not-Call rules for insurance companies. Stonebridge argues that the FTC lacks jurisdiction to regulate the activities of insurance companies.
View the complaint.

The Federal Communications Commission announces support for the creation of a Do Not Call Registry.View the announcement.

Over 10 million phone numbers are registered as the National Do Not Call Registry begins enrollment.

The Federal Communications Commission issues new rules mirroring the FTC's Do-Not-Call rules and adding entities subject to the Do-Not-Call restrictions beyond the reach of the FTC's reach, including banks, insurance companies, and common carriers.

Mainstream Marketing Services, Inc., TMG Marketing, Inc., and American Teleservices Association file a petition requesting a stay of the FCC's Do-Not-Call rules in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit. View petition.

FTC issues its final rule concerning Do-Not-Call registry access fees. View final rule.

Do Not Call Registry exceeds 50 million registrants. View FTC chart showing enrollment statistics categorized by state until September 16, 2003.

Judge Lee R. West of the U.S. District Court of Oklahoma issues an order (view order) and judgment (view judgment) that the FTC does not have the authority to implement a National Do Not Call Registry.

FTC files an emergency motion for stay pending appeal in the U.S. District Court of Oklahoma in response to its earlier decision invalidating the Do Not Call registry.
FCC Chairman Powell issues a statement supporting the Do Not Call Registry. View Powell's statement.

The U.S. District Court of Oklahoma denies the FTC's motion for a stay of its earlier decision invalidating the Do Not Call registry. Congress passes legislation to ratify the FTC's authority to implement a Do-Not-Call registry. Judge Edward W. Nottingham of the U.S. District Court of Colorado rules that the Do-Not-Call registry is a violation of the First Amendment. FCC Chairman Powell issues a statement that joint FCC-FTC enforcement will ensure implementation of the list on October 1, 2003. View Powell's statement.

The 10th Circuit Court of Appeals denies Mainstream Marketing Services, Inc., TMG Marketing, Inc., and American Teleservices Association's request for a stay of the FCC Do Not Call rules pending review of merits. The FTC files an emergency motion to stay the U.S. District Court of Colorado's opinion while an appeal can be heard. View emergency motion. FCC Chairman Powell issues a statement that the agency will vigorously defend the Do-Not-Call list with the FTC.

The FTC files an appeal with the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals. View the appeal. President Bush signs legislation that ratifies the FTC's authority to implement a Do Not Call registry. The U.S. District Court Colorado denies the FTC's motion for a stay of its decision invalidating the Do Not Call registry and further decrees that the rules cannot be implemented "indirectly" through the FCC. The Direct Marketing Association urges its members to abide by the Do-Not-Call rules, despite the court rulings.

The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation holds a hearing on the Do-Not-Call Registry. The FCC issues a consumer guide on telemarketing. The FTC files a motion with the 10th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals. View the motion.

The FCC, FTC temporarily suspends new registrations to its Do Not Call registry.

The FCC announces the formation of a "Do-Not-Call Enforcement Team" and issues statement on telemarketing complaints. The DMA issues statement that compliance is at 90 percent. Read the DMA's statement.

FCC issues statement on telemarketing complaints. View the statement.

The 10th Circuit Court of Appeals issues a stay of the U.S. District Court of Colorado's decision, allowing FTC to proceed with registry while the appeal is pending. The 10th Circuit consolidates the three cases before the court regarding the Do Not Call registry and set an advanced hearing date of November 10, 2003 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. View the stay.

The temporary suspension of enrollment to the Do Not Call List is lifted. Consumers who had not previously done so can register for inclusion in the FTC's Do-Not-Call registry.

Consumers can begin filing Do Not Call complaints.

The FTC and FCC file a consolidated opening brief with the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals in their appeals case. View the brief.

The FTC reports that consumers registered with the National Do Not Call Registry have filed more than 37,000 complaints against telemarketers who continue to call them. 53.7 million numbers are now registered on the Do Not Call list.

The FCC proposes to fine AT&T $780,000 for apparent violations of the company-specific Do Not Call list.

The 10th Circuit Court of Appeals hears oral arguments in FTC v. Mainstream Marketing Service, the case in which the FTC is appealing a district court ruling that found the Do-Not-Call list unconstitutional.

Current Status: FTC may operate the Do Not Call registry and accept complaints from consumers.