Do-not-call registry does not exist for cell phones

• You may be one of many consumers who have received e-mails saying you're about to be assaulted by unwanted telemarketing calls to your cell phone.
• The confusion seems to stem from recent discussions in the wireless phone industry about establishing a wireless 411 phone directory, much like your traditional (wired) 411 phone directory.
• A number of e-mail campaigns seem to suggest that if your wireless telephone number is listed in a wireless 411 directory, it will be available to telemarketers, and you will start to receive sales calls.
• In addition, some of these e-mail campaigns suggest that there is a separate do-not-call "cell phone registry," which you must call to have your wireless phone number covered by the do-not-call rules.
• For example, it is unlawful for any person to make any call (other than a call made for emergency purposes or made with express prior consent) using any automatic telephone dialing system or any artificial or prerecorded voice to any telephone number assigned to a paging service, mobile telephone service, or any service for which the called party is charged for the call.
• Contrary to what some of the e-mail campaigns are now saying, the Federal Government does not maintain and is not establishing a separate Do-Not-Call Registry for mobile phones.
• The FCC and the Federal Trade Commission set up the National Do-Not-Call Registry to enable consumers to reduce the number of unwanted telemarketing calls to their phones.
• Registrations become effective within 31 days of signing up and are active for five years.
• If you receive an unwanted telemarketing call and you have requested your telephone number be listed on the Registry, you can file a complaint by e-mail (fccinfo@fcc.gov); the Internet (www.fcc.gov/cgb/complaints.html); voice telephone call (1-888-CALL-FCC (1-888-225-5322)); or TTY telephone call (1-888-TELL-FCC (1-888-835-5322)).