Conservative and Free Market Groups Call FTC Do-Not-Call Registry Bad Economic Policy;

In anticipation of the expected announcement today by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) of its proposal to create and monitor a nation wide “do not call” (DNC) list many national conservative and free market organizations have issued their protest, again, to the unprecedented steps of the federal agency.

“Today’s move by the FTC to go ahead with a national do-not-call list is just bad economic policy. Many businesses, particularly small businesses, and their employees are going to be negatively affected by this move. Congress and the Bush Administration should put a halt to this ill-advised policy,” stated Darrell McKigney, President of the Small Business Survival Committee (SBSC).

Many experts on state rights, privacy advocates, and heads of free market and conservative organizations have concerns about adding new regulations on the teleservices industry that will have a far reaching impact on small businesses, non profit organizations, and the general public. Seventeen groups signed on to a petition letter to President Bush in June of 2002 adamantly opposing the FTC’s proposed DNC list.

“While the ‘do not call’ proposal has become a topic of debate here in Washington, it is not evident that action by the Federal Trade Commission is necessary,” stated Paul Beckner, president of Citizens for a Sound Economy. “The FTC’s actions raise important questions about free speech and may harm consumers more than they would help them.

“As numerous studies have demonstrated, direct business communication to consumers increases awareness of product alternatives, intensifies competition, and lowers prices. Furthermore, many private sector alternatives have developed to address concerns about unsolicited phone calls, including ‘hassle-free’ credit cards and caller id and call block features from telephone companies. New FTC regulations on commercial speech would not only harm the solicitors, but foreclose the market for private sector alternatives through the creation of a vast database that would compromise consumer privacy in the process.”

Duane Parde, executive director of the American Legislative Exchange Council, said, “There is absolutely no need for the federal government to enforce such frivolous regulations on to Americans when states are already implementing do-not-call lists, and the free market is providing solutions to block unwanted calls to consumers. The federal government is most assuredly not needed here.”

ALEC, CSE, and SBSC, represent three of the groups out of 17 that oppose this FTC ruling and signed on to a petition letter to President Bush in June, 2002, urging the President to withdrawal this FTC initiative immediately. Copies of the petition letter available upon request.

CONTACT: Stella Harrison, +1-202-431-6461, or stella@stellarstrategies.net, for the Small Business Survival Committee.

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SOURCE Small Business Survival Committee

CONTACT: Stella Harrison, +1-202-431-6461, or stella@stellarstrategies.net, for the Small Business Survival Committee

URL: http://www.prnewswire.com

LOAD-DATE: December 19, 2002