The United States Congress passed the Do Not Call Implementation Act in 2003 to protect consumers from unwanted phone calls from telemarketers. The bill was sponsored by Representatives Billy Tauzin and John Dingell and signed into law by President George W. Bush on March 11, 2003. The act led to the establishment of fees to support the Do Not Call Registry and to the creation of the Do Not Call Registry.
The act provides that the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) may establish fees sufficient to implement and enforce the provisions relating to the ‘‘do-not-call’’ registry of the Telemarketing Sales Rule, promulgated under the Telemarketing and Consumer Fraud and Abuse Prevention Act. Fees may be collected for fiscal years 2003 through 2007, and such amounts shall offset the costs related to the implementation and enforcement of the Telemarketing Sales Rule. The Act further directs the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to issue a final rule pursuant to a rulemaking proceeding begun under the Telephone Consumer Protection Act; and to coordinate with the FTC to maximize consistency with the FTC's do-not-call rule.