You may have been the recipient of an e-mail informing you that your cell phone is about to be assaulted by telemarketing calls as a result of a new cell phone number database. If you have received such an email, you can rest assured that this is not the case.

Telemarketing to cell phone numbers, in most cases, has always been illegal and will continue to be so. Responding to recent email campaigns that have urged consumers to place their cell phone numbers on the National Do Not Call Registry, the Federal Trade Commission and Federal Communications Commission have issued this advisory to give consumers the facts.

One email currently making the rounds says:

"JUST A REMINDER . . . In a few weeks, cell phone numbers are being released to telemarketing companies and you will start to receive sale calls. YOU WILL BE CHARGED FOR THESE CALLS . . . To prevent
this, call the following number from your cell phone: 888/382-1222. It is the National DO NOT CALL List. It will only take a minute of your time. It blocks your number for five (5) years. PASS THIS ONTO ALL
YOUR FRIENDS . . . "

While a similar email claims:

"The Federal Trade Commission has set up a "do not call"
list. It is called a cell phone registry. To be included on the "do not call" list, you must call from the number you wish to register."

Here are the true facts about the National Do Not Call
Registry program:

Telemarketers are forbidden by FCC regulations from using automated dialers to call cell phone numbers. Automated dialers are standard in the industry, so telemarketers are excluded from calling consumers
on their cell phones without their consent.

A national cell phone registry is not maintained by the federal government. Personal cell phone users have always been able to add their numbers to the National Do Not Call Registry, which is the same Registry consumers use to register their land lines. Registrations become effective within 31 days of signing up and are active for five years. There is no cut off date or deadline for registrations.

Business-to-business calls are not covered under the Registry.

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