Submission Number: 00029 

Received: 1/14/2011 11:08:49 AM
Commenter: Joe Shields
Organization: 
State: Texas
Agency: Federal Trade Commission
Initiative: 16 CFR Part 310: Telemarketing Sales Rule
Attachments: No Attachments
Submission Text
The transmitted information that can be displayed on caller ID devices should have the name and number of the telemarketer that originated the call. If the name and number of the entity on whose behalf the call was initiated is shown then the called party cannot make a do not call request with the telemarketer since their identity is unknown. Telemarketers have for the longest time claimed that a do not call is for the client they are calling on behalf of but it is absurd to make such a claim. If someone doesn't like telemarketing calls then a do not call request should apply to the telemarketer as well as their client. Consequently, the telemarketers name and contact number should be transmitted in caller ID so they cannot hide their identity from the called party. Since they can and should identify on whose behalf they are calling during the call there is no reason to hide their identity from caller ID. Caller ID violations should be countered with hefty fines and not a slap on the wrist. The technology has been around for more than 20 tears and most telemarketers have purposely set caller ID information to "Unavailable" or "Out of Area" in the past. They should not be allowed to hide their identity anymore with such tactics. A called party is entitled to know who is calling and that means the telemarketer that actually made the call. They should not be allowed to spoof their clients name and number. Telemarketers that spoof caller ID information should be treated as criminals and turned over to the Department of Justice for prosecution and jail time. Spoofing caller ID information is no different than walking up to someone’s home with a ski mask on and ringing the doorbell. It should be treated as a criminal offense - no exceptions. That includes telemarketers that transmit their clients contact information instead of their own.