For Immediate Release
	Sept. 24, 2003
	Contact: Carol McKay
	202-835-3323
	media@nclnet.org

NCL Reacts with Disappointment to Delay of
Do-Not-Call List

Court Ruling to Prevent Administration of List an Outrage;
Consumer Group Renews Commitment to Fight for Reducing Telemarketing Calls

Washington, DC — The nation’s oldest consumer advocacy organization today announced its disappointment in yesterday’s district court ruling preventing the Federal Trade Commission from implementing the national Do Not Call registry, which would have gone into effect October 1. The ruling, according to the National Consumers League, is a frustrating delay — not death — of the list’s ultimate implementation.  

“The fact that nearly 50 million phone numbers have been logged by consumers wishing to free themselves of telemarketing harassment is a clear indicator that there will continue to be tremendous demand for a list. Efforts toward a national list may have been temporarily delayed, but they will not die with this ruling,” said Linda Golodner, NCL President.

Currently, several states operate their own do-not-call lists, and the Direct Marketing Association operates its own Telephone Preference Service, which regulates calls from member companies. None of these lists, however, could take the place of a federal government-run list in effectively reducing the numbers of unwanted telemarketing calls placed to annoyed consumers.

The National Consumers League is one of many organizations that have long supported a national Do Not Call list. Consumers can learn about ways to reduce sales calls at “Stop Calling Me!” at www.nclnet.org/privacy/stopcalling.htm.

“This eleventh-hour attempt to prevent the list from successfully reducing unwanted telemarketing calls is frustrating, both to consumers and to the organizations that have fought for the list,” Golodner said. “But it’s just an attempt, and we are hopeful that the consumer voice will be heard.”  

The National Consumers League, founded in 1899, is America's pioneer consumer organization. Our mission is to identify, protect, represent, and advance the economic and social interests of consumers and workers. NCL is a private, nonprofit membership organization. For more information, visit www.nclnet.org.

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