FCC Issues First Do-Not-Call Citation

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December 19, 2003
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has cited California Pacific Mortgage for allegedly making eight telemarketing calls to consumers who had put their phone numbers on the national do-not-call registry.

It's the first FCC action against an alleged violator of the new rules that prohibit marketing calls to the 55.4 million Americans who have signed up for the "leave me alone" list.

California Pacific Mortgage, based in Irvine, will not be fined this time, although the FCC could impose a fine of up to $11,000 for each subsequent violation.

"This is a landmark enforcement step – the first FCC action to enforce our new National Do Not Call rules," said David Solomon, enforcement bureau chief at the FCC. "This citation demonstrates our resolve to ensure that consumers are not bothered by unwanted, intrusive calls to their homes."

"Do Not Call enforcement is the FCC's top consumer protection priority and we, along with our partners at the FTC, will continue to be vigilant in this area on behalf of the American public," Solomon said.

Solomon said "numerous" other investigations are underway and he said the FCC has sent letters to 40 companies, warning them that they are under investigation.

The FCC is concentrating its efforts in the industries where it has jurisdiction, including telecommunications, banking and airlines. The FCC and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) jointly enforce the do-not-call regulations.

The FTC says it has received more than 100,000 consumer complaints about unwanted calls.

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