The FTC has finally done something I can really appreciate:

Specifically, the FTC changed its venerable Telemarketing Sales Rule (TSR) to prohibit, as of Sept. 2009, telemarketing calls that deliver prerecorded messages, unless a consumer has agreed to accept such calls from a given caller/seller.

Between now and 2009, telemarketers must provide an obvious, easy and quick way for consumers to opt-out of any call, the FTC said. Such an opt-out mechanism needs to be in place by December 1, 2008.

I know everyone hates these dinner destroying calls as much as I do, but what about those notorious political robocalls? Well we are still stuck with those:

However for those who have called on the FTC to help eliminate the other phone scourge – political robocalls – the new rule will not help. Calls from political campaigns are considered protected speech an FTC representative said.

So to rid ourselves of the annoying robocalls, we need Congress to step up. For some reason I don’t see that happening, but the article does say that numerous state legislatures are looking at making changes. Hopefully a day will come when I can make it through a political season without getting a call that’s a recording of John Boehner.