Regulation & Policy: CRTC chair dispels myths of national do-not-call list

Critics of the country’s unsolicited telemarketing rules have been rebuffed by the chair of the CRTC. Speaking to the Canadian Telecom Summit in Toronto last month, Konrad von Finckenstein dispelled claims on the national do-not-call list’s (DNCL) illegal use, calling it an urban myth. There is nothing to the claims that foreign telemarketers are buying the CRTC’s National DNCL List and using it to call consumers who have registered on the list, he said. “First of all I can’t understand why anyone would want to do it. These are people who have registered; they don’t want to be called. Secondly, there is absolutely no evidence to this and we rigorously check who buys those lists and if they are legitimate telemarketers. So, for once and for all, that’s an urban myth, it does not exist,” he told delegates. Certainly there are cases where foreign telemarketers have purchased lists and are in fact making calls, perhaps even to those registered on the list, but one has to believe that the CRTC chair wouldn’t settle for anecdotal evidence to support such a claim. Given he is a lawyer, a former federal court judge and previously served as the head of the Competition Bureau of Canada, you have to think that his standards require more than second- or third-hand stories. However von Finckenstein did recognize that there are shortcomings to the list that could be improved upon. “We all realize that telemarketing calls from abroad are a significant concern,” he said. “While we enjoy good working relationships with the United States, and while we exchange information, the legislation does not provide for mutual enforcement. This is a significant shortcoming.” During his speech, the CRTC chair did trumpet the benefits consumers are realizing from the national DNCL, noting that it is working and reducing the amount of unwanted telemarketing calls Canadians are receiving. “Not only have Canadians registered, they have noticed the benefits. An independent survey found that 80% of those who have registered say they now receive fewer telemarketing calls,” he said referring to a VoxPop survey conducted by the Marketing Research and Intelligence Association in March. Wireless industry to institute code of conduct Canada’s wireless industry is stepping up to better serve its customers through a code of conduct. Set to go into effect on September 1, 2009, the code, while developed voluntarily by the majority of Canada’s wireless operators, will become part of the arsenal of tools available to the commissioner for complaints for telecommunications services (CCTS) when dealing with service complaints. “Our new code will ensure that consumers have the information they need to make informed purchasing decisions that will also safeguard their rights as consumers and ensure that their concerns are addressed,” Bernard Lord, president and CEO of the Canadian Wireless Telecommunications Association, said in his keynote address to the Canadian Telecom Summit The CCTS will ensure the success of the code and mobile carriers’ adherence to high standards, service and transparent, by giving the code “its teeth”, Lord noted, which is unlike other jurisdictions such as the US and other European countries where their codes are voluntary. Regulatory blockbuster: a lot of barking but no bite Every year at the Canadian Telecom Summit, a panel consisting of regulatory lawyers from rival providers is touted as a must-see by organizers and past attendees. In the halls of the Toronto Congress Centre, people regale others of infamous quotes of past years. Do you remember when Ken Engelhart said telecom regulation is a made up issue or when Luc Lavoie told Lawson Hunter that Bell Canada should perhaps spend more time fixing its network rather than arguing for regulatory change? It is true that there have some humdingers over the years and this year was no different. Michael Hennessy, senior vice-president of regulatory and government affairs at Telus Corp, whaled about the federal government’s swindling of the telecom industry in taking more than $4 billion from the wireless industry in last year’s advanced wireless services spectrum auction, yet only giving back a meagre $225 million for broadband. And at the same time, it was bailing out the auto industry. We thought we might be in for a treat. Our anticipation was short-lived though. After their opening remarks, talk quickly shifted back to arguments of yesteryear: fair and reasonable access to incumbent’s local access facilities

Regulation & Policy: CRTC chair dispels myths of national do-not-call list

News | 06/28/2009 3:55 pm EDT

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