Markets Wired

Fees Telemarketers Pay to Access the National Do Not Call Registry Will Not Increase in FY 2011

The fees that telemarketers pay to access phone numbers on the National Do Not Call Registry will remain unchanged in fiscal year 2011, the Federal Trade Commission has announced. All telemarketers making calls to consumers in the United States are required to download the Do Not Call list to make sure consumers who have placed their numbers on the list do not receive unwanted calls. (See related press release dated August 18, 2009, at http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2009/08/donotcall.shtm.)

The access fees for fiscal year 2011 (from October 1, 2010 to September 30, 2011) are based on the Do-Not-Call Registry Fee Extension Act of 2007 and will be the same as they were in fiscal year 2010: Telemarketers can get the first five area codes for free, and will pay $55 for a subscription giving them access to Registry phone numbers in additional area codes, up to a maximum charge of $15,058 for all area codes nationwide. Telemarketers who subscribe to additional phone numbers during the second half of their annual subscription period will be charged $27 per area code. Organizations that are exempt from the Do Not Call rules, such as some charitable organizations, can get the entire list for free.

The Commission vote authorizing the Federal Register notice announcing the FY 2011 fees was 5-0. It can be found at http://www.ftc.gov/os/fedreg/2010/august/100831telemarketing.pdf on the FTC’s website and as a link to this press release. (FTC File No. P034305; the staff contact is Ami Rop, Bureau of Consumer Protection, 202-326-2648.)

FTC Approves Final Order Settling Charges that Houghton International’s Acquisition of D.A. Stuart GmbH was Anticompetitive

Following a public comment period, the Federal Trade Commission has approved a final order settling charges that Houghton International’s 2008 acquisition of D.A. Stuart GmbH was anticompetitive. The acquisition combined the two largest North American suppliers of hot rolling oil that is used to process aluminum. The settlement order required Houghton to sell some of the hot aluminum rolling oil assets it acquired through the transaction.

The FTC vote approving the final order was 5-0. (FTC File No. 081-0245; the staff contact is James W. Frost, Bureau of Competition, 202-326-2189. See press release dated July 14, 2010 at http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2010/07/houghton.shtm.)

Copies of the documents mentioned in this release are available from the FTC’s website at http://www.ftc.gov and from the FTC’s Consumer Response Center, Room 130, 600 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Washington, DC 20580. Call toll-free: 1-877-FTC-HELP.

(FYI 34.2010.wpd)