Government to curb unwanted calls in phases

New Delhi, Sept 8: The crack-down on unwanted calls from telemarketers which has begun is currently in the process of being implemented by the Department of Telecom (DOT) in three phases.

The telecom regulator, TRAI, had issued the ''Telecom Unsolicited Commercial Communications Regulation, 2007'' to curb unwanted telemarketing calls.

The process would be implemented in three phases starting with online registration of the telemarketer followed by registration of telephone users not wanting commercial calls/unwanted calls with their respective telecom service providers so that unsolicited calls are stopped after 45 days of their registration with Telecom Service Providers.

Finally, the telemarketers has to first check their subscriber calling list with the 'National Do Not Call' Registry, so that such registered numbers are not sent the unsolicited commercial communication.

In the first phase of implementation the NIC has designed an Online Registration Module for telemarketers. As on September 7, 2007 about 14750 telemarketers having around 4,50,000 telephone lines have already applied with various telecom service providers for getting themselves registered with DoT. The telecom service providers are in the process of verifying these telemarketers.

In the second phase of implementation the registration of subscribers for the 'National Do Not Call' Registry or NDNC has commenced. The registration is being done through their respective service providers. The Authority had issued an advertisement to this effect in the leading national dailies on August 27.

In this regard, a meeting was held by TRAI on September 5 with all the service providers, wherein they have confirmed that the 'Do Not Call' registrations have been started. The details of call centre number/SMS number on which the registration can be done are being given on the websites of respective service providers. The same can also be accessed from website www.ndncregistry.gov.in.

Once a telephone number is registered, it will take about 45 days for this mechanism to come into effect.

In the third phase of implementation the NIC has prepared a scrubbing module and Authority is in a process of validating it.

Once this module is functional, the Authority would ask all telemarketers to get their calling list scrubbed through this module and telemarketers will be able to call only those numbers which are cleared by NDNC Registry.

TRAI had issued 'Telecom Unsolicited Commercial Communications Regulations 2007', on June 5 for putting in place a mechanism for curbing the unwanted telemarketing calls. The Regulation prescribed three-month time frame to establish the NDNC.

For the implementation of the Regulation, the Department of Telecom (DoT) has authorised NIC for installation, operation and maintenance of NDNC Registry.

DoT also issued guidelines on June 6 to the existing telemarketers to get themselves register with the DoT through their telecom service providers by August 31.

UNI