People can sign up Friday for national do-not-call list to block telemarketers

WASHINGTON (AP) -- People fed up with unwanted telemarketing can sign up Friday for a national do-not-call list that will block many sales calls.

The Federal Trade Commission said Thursday it will launch the free service, first proposed last year, with a White House ceremony led by President Bush.

In a related action, the Federal Communications Commission moved to plug holes in the list's protections. The agency voted 5-0 to include in the program industries whose calls it regulates, including airlines, banks and telephone companies. The FCC action also would cover faxes and calls made from within a state -- the FTC could only police interstate calls.

Consumers may sign up for the registry on a Web site by providing the phone number they want protected and an e-mail address so they can receive a confirmation message, the FTC said. The only identifying information kept will be the phone number.

Telephone registration using a toll-free number will begin at the same time in states west of the Mississippi River, including Minnesota and Louisiana, the FTC said. Nationwide registration should be available about 10 days later. Consumers will have to call from the number they want to register.

The Web site and phone number have yet to be announced.

On the Net:

Federal Trade Commission: http://www.ftc.gov/donotcall/

Federal Communications Commission: http://www.fcc.gov