Cell Number News Release.pdf

NEWS
Federal Communications Commission
445 12th Street, S.W.
Washington, D. C. 20554

This is an unofficial announcement of Commission action. Release of the full text of a Commission order constitutes official action. See MCI v. FCC. 515 F 2d 385 (D.C. Circ 1974).
News Media Information 202 / 418-0500
Internet: http://www.fcc.go
TTY: 1-888-835-5322
For Immediate Release: News Media Contact:
September 17, 2009 Rosemary Kimball at [phone]
e-mail: [e-mail]

NO TRUTH TO RUMOR THAT CELL PHONE NUMBERS WILL BE MADE
AVAILABLE TO TELEMARKETERS

Washington, DC -- For several years there has been a rumor circulating, mostly by e-mail,
that a nationwide directory of cell phone numbers will be made available to telemarketers, and
that consumers will start receiving telemarketing calls on their cell phones.

There is no truth to this rumor. Cell phone numbers are not being released to telemarketers,
and you will not soon be getting telemarketing calls on your cell phone. FCC rules prohibit the
use of autodialers and prerecorded messages to call cell phones without the consumer’s consent.
Thus, most telemarketers are barred from contacting consumers on their cell phones.

The e-mail spreading the rumor often suggests that consumers put their cell phone numbers
on the National Do-Not-Call Registry by going on-line at www.donotcall.gov or by calling 1-
888-382-1222. This is the correct contact information for the National Do-Not-Call Registry.
Consumers may register their cell phone numbers as an extra protection against unwanted
telemarketing calls, although most telemarketing calls to cell phones would be illegal regardless
of whether the number is listed on the Do-Not-Call Registry.

For more information on the government’s Do-Not-Call Registry, go to www.donotcall.gov.

To learn more about the e-mail rumor, go to
http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/consumerfacts/truthaboutcellphones.html

- FCC -