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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