Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: Notesfiles; site hpfcmp.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!allegra!oliveb!hplabs!hpfcdc!hpfcla!rjn From: rjn@hpfcla.UUCP Newsgroups: net.consumers Subject: Re: Telephone mailing lists Message-ID: <34800004@hpfcmp.UUCP> Date: Tue, 29-Oct-85 00:19:00 EST Article-I.D.: hpfcmp.34800004 Posted: Tue Oct 29 00:19:00 1985 Date-Received: Sat, 2-Nov-85 06:49:51 EST References: <488@scirtp.UUCP> Organization: 28 Oct 85 22:19:00 MST Lines: 35 re: some mail that I got on this topic [telephone solicitation]: > I agree with your article and do exactly what you advise, only at times I > get the people calling back and then saying obscenities. I recognize the > voice, and it generally will happen immediately after the call. > > What I want to know is, isn't there a FCC (???? or one of those wonderful > government agencies) that issues licenses to telephone solicitators??? > > Possibly, if you ask the junk caller for the licenses number this may scare > them away and put your name on the list of all of those "to smart to bother > with" consumers. "Wonderful government agencies" is a contradiction in terms. In any case, I am not aware that ANY kind of license is required to USE a telephone for any purpose (and please don't give them any ideas). The FCC does license equipment which is to be connected to the phone system, but that does not affect how it is used. The real problem with a phone company is that it is a geographic monopoly (enforced by statute). Where there's no freedom, there's no competition, and there's no choice. So the phone company has to establish rules of use (tarrifs) which suit the greatest number (or most influential regulator). They have little incentive to explore alternate forms of agreement with individual subscribers, since you have nowhere else to go. Change comes slowly in such markets. Nonetheless, I understand that some exchanges are now adding services like: * Denial of connection by callers whose number you specify. * Instant tracing of locally placed calls. You can lodge complaints more easily. Regards, Hewlett-Packard Bob Niland 3404 East Harmony Road hplabs!hpfcla!rjn Fort Collins CO 80525