The National Political Do Not Contact Registry - Stop Political Calls BLOG

The Top 11 Ways To Stop Politicians And Others From Contacting You At Home

Washington, DC - Shaun Dakin, CEO The National Political Do Not Contact Registry - Sign up for free at StopPoliticalCalls.org

The list that politicians, parties, vendors and candidates don't want you to know about.

With the election season now hitting us like a Hurricane, particularly in battle ground states, The National Political Do Not Contact Registry presents the top 11 ways to stop politicians, vendors candidates, unions, PACs, 527's, and local, state, and national party groups from contacting you at home either by phone or via the Internet.

The bottom line?  With days to go until election day there is little that you can do now to stop John McCain, Sarah Palin, Barack Obama, George Bush, Bill Clinton, Megan Fox, Jack Nicholson, Jay Z or some other celebrity from calling you at home.   

However, there are some things you can do now that will help as well as preparing for the next election cycle as well as stopping commercial marketers from invading your privacy.

1)  Registering to Vote -->  Don't Do It, or Give The Minimum Information You Absolutely Need to Give

• When you register to vote DO NOT give the state your phone number.  Leave it blank.   Why?  Because your state voter registration database, in most instances, is simply re-sold to the political establishment and that is the database that is used to contact you.  ACTION:  Re-register in your state and make sure that you remove your phone number(s) from the application.
• Political Party Affiliation.  Don't have one.  Do not register as part of a political party.   I know, that can disqualify you from voting in the primaries.  But, if you don't want a party to call you, don't tell them you support them.   

2) Learn the Law -->  Some states ban robo calls, do you live in one of them?

• Yes, there are states that ban robo calls and do not exempt political calls.  If you live in one of them, know the law, how to file a complaint, and follow through on the complaint.
• California is the biggest state with a robo call ban.   If you live in CA, robo calls are illegal according to the California Public Utilities Code sections 2871-2876.  We have set up a specific web page to help CA residents file a complaint and to learn more about the law.
• StopIllegalCARobocalls.org
• Other states include:  OR, IN, MN, NJ and SC. 
• We also have a form for MN residents:
  • StopIllegalMNRobocalls.org

3)  Do Not Call Registries -->  Make sure you are on ALL of them

• While political calls are often exempt from do not call registries, there are several states that use the either the Federal Do Not Call List or a state do not call list to enforce robo call bans (Oregon for example).   At the very least, make sure you are on the Federal Do Not Call Registry and your own State Do Not Call Registry (as applicable, some states do not have their own).
• Sign up at the National Political Do Not Contact Registry.   The NPDNC is a non-profit non-partisan advocacy organization that is working with politicians and parties to demand that they not call voters that sign up at StopPoliticalCalls.org.  Currently 6 politicians have signed a "do not robo call" pledge as well as a leading robo calling vendor.

4)  Contributing and Volunteering for Candidates -->  Don't, if you do not want to get unwanted contacts

• Bottom line?  If you contribute or volunteer to a campaign or candidate and give them your phone number, email, and address you can expect to get non stop communications until election day.   
• Opt-Out of Email:  Most campaigns will allow you to quickly opt-out of email communications.  It is much more difficult to get them to remove your phone numbers and mailing addresses.  Visit their campaign websites to find out how to do so.

5)  Tell the Campaigns To Stop Calling! -->  In person, often, and via the phone

• In person communication works.   Do it.  Now.
• If you do not like getting unwanted phone calls from campaigns, tell them!   
• Tell campaigns that you will not vote for the candidate if they do not stop calling
• Tell campaigns that you will not contribute if they do not stop calling
• Tell campaigns that you will write letters to the editor and tell all your friends not to vote for that candidate if they do not stop calling
• Make sure, again, that you know your state laws about political calls and demand that the enforcing authorities actually do their job -->  Enforcing the existing laws!

6)  Think Having a Cell Phone Exempts You From Getting Called?  Think Again. -->  Make sure that you never give campaigns your number(s).

• If you think that the law regulates political calls to cell phones, you are wrong.  Period. 
• If a campaign gets hold of your cell phone number (your voter registration, your contribution form, your volunteer application, etc..) they can call you on your cell phone anytime, anywhere, anyhow.
• Just because commercial organizations are banned from calling cell phones doesn't mean that politicians are.  Remember, politicians are exempt from most do not call registries.  Just because you have a cell phone doesn't mean that pols won't call you.

7)  Unlist Your Number(s) With Your Phone Company

• Yes, it costs a little extra.  It is worth it.  Unlist your number from the phone directory by calling your local phone provider and doing it now. Not only will it stop your ex-spouse from finding you, it will make it harder for politicians to find you as well.

8)  Make Sure Google Unlists Your Number

• Few people realize that Google could have your phone number, name and address.   Fewer people realize that Google makes it easy to unlist it for free.  Click here to do so.

9) Consumer Marketing Do Not XYZ Lists. -->  Join them now.

• The Direct Marketing Association has a website that lists the following services.  We recommend that you sign up for all of them.  NOTE:  Some cost money.
• How to remove your name from mailing lists. 
• How to get your name off telemarketing lists.
• How to get your name off email lists.
• How to remove deceased individuals names from marketing lists.
• How to remove the names of individuals in your care from marketing lists.
• The Mail Preference Service
• Credit Card Offers.  The CC industry has a credit card offer opt out service at:
• Opt-Out Pre-Screen

10)  Get Caller ID -->  You'll know if it is Grandma Calling, but You'll still be woken up at 3 AM

• Again, this service often costs a little extra.  It is worth it so that when you see a number that you do not recognize on your Caller ID screen you can make the choice not to answer it.
• It does not help, however, with stopping the phone from actually ringing and waking you and your family up.

11)  Internet Advertising Op-Out Services -->  If you do not want to be micro-targeted by the campaigns, do not let them know who you are and where you are when you are online.

• Network Advertising Initiative opt out (NAI opt out).  Click here to learn more and take action.

11 1/2)  Educate Yourself -->  AARP and Google have teamed up to create a great site full of useful content to learn about everything you need to know about protecting yourself online.

• You can click here to link directly to the Google's Privacy Channel.  At the site you'll learn all about the following through easy to view YouTube video:
  • Search Privacy
  • Firewalls
  • Password protection
  • Unlisting phone numbers
  • Cookies

We are sure that there are other ways to stop unwanted political communications.  Please let us know in the comment section and we'll be sure to update the list as we learn of more options.

Washington, DC - Shaun Dakin, CEO The National Political Do Not Contact Registry - Sign up for free at StopPoliticalCalls.org

 

Congress Eliminates 5 Year Re-registration Rule for Do Not Call List, But Conveniently Forgets To Stop Calling Voters At Home

In an amazing feat of bi-partisanship the US congress eliminated the requirement that consumers re-register after five years on the federal Do Not Call list.

That was hard. 

I'm sure that there were a lot of back room deals for this piece of legislation.  They debated long and hard on this one.

Think about it.  One of the most successful pieces of legislation in the history of the nation, the Do Not Call list, and congress decides to make it even easier for consumers to register and keep registered.

Only thing is, there was no mention of the fact that politicians exempted themselves from the Do Not Call list and they continue to call voters at any time of the day or night, refusing to listen to the will of the people not to be called during dinner.

As I noted in an earlier post, 81% of Iowa voters received robo calls in November.  81% !!! That is a staggering number.   In 2006, 64% of All voters (90 Million people) received robo calls.

Some received up to 10 a day.

This is yet another example of politicians attempting to look good and not really doing anything about the issue from their control.

That is, today much of the unwanted telemarketing calls come from politicians NOT telemarketers.

They have become the telemarketers now.

Shaun Dakin - StopPoliticalCalls.org

FTC CRACKS DOWN ON COMPANIES NOT ADHERING TO FEDERAL DO NOT CALL LIST; UNFORTUNATELY, POLITICAL CALLS ARE EXCLUDED

We released this statement today in reaction to the news on the FTC crack down on several companies:

Federal regulators on Wednesday announced nearly $7.7 million in settlements with six companies - including Craftmatic Industries and ADT Security Services - accused of calling people on the national Do Not Call list.

FTC CRACKS DOWN ON COMPANIES NOT ADHERING TO FEDERAL DO NOT CALL LIST; UNFORTUNATELY, POLITICAL CALLS ARE EXCLUDED

While the FTC cracks down on companies with $7.7 million in fines, politicians are free to call voters at dinner

Washington, D.C. – Thursday, November 8, 2007 – The National Political ‘Do Not Call’ registry (NPDNC) applauds the FTC for cracking down on six companies that have failed to abide by the Federal Do Not Call (DNC) regulations with $7.7 million in settlements.   However, millions of Americans continue to have their homes invaded by another telemarketing menace, automated political calls or “robo” calls.   While Americans have registered nearly 150 million phone numbers with the DNC during the past four years, Georgetown University research determined that 3 out of 4 voters do not know that political calls are exempt.  This gaping loophole has become a national problem.  During the final weeks of the 2006 election, 64 percent of voters received recorded messages, according to the Pew Internet & American Life Project.  Approximately 40 percent received between three and nine automated phone calls during the course of the campaign.

Voters can now fight back against automated political robo calls by registering for free at, www.StopPoliticalCalls.org, managed by the National Political Do Not Contact Registry (NPDNC).  The non-partisan, non-profit registry is designed to stop politicians from calling voters at home, particularly with automated (or “robo”) calls.

About the National Political Do Not Contact Registry

The National Political Do Not Contact Registry is a program of Citizens for Civil Discourse (CCD), non-partisan, non-profit organization (federal 501(c)(3) status pending) dedicated to elevating political discussion in the United States.  CCD is based on the premise that the decline of civility in American political dialogue has diminished our nation’s capacity to address urgent problems.  Founder and CEO Shaun Dakin believes that citizen action is required to restore decency, respect and common sense to public debate in this country.  CCD created the National Political Do Not Call Registry as a first step towards its goal by reducing unwanted political phone calls, particularly automated messages (“robo” calls), which frustrate and annoy voters regardless of party and ultimately reduce political participation.  Because the U.S. Constitution protects political speech, CCD advocates addressing this issue not by enacting new legislation but by encouraging voters to talk back and make free speech a two-way exchange.  Learn more at www.StopPoliticalCalls.org.

CNN - The Registry Gets a Mention On "The Situation Room"

Washington, D.C. - 10.30.2007 -

CNN's Internet reporter, Abbi Tatton, ran a very positive segment on the National Political Do Not Contact Registry during today's "Situation Room" with Wolf Blitzer.

I wish I had a video to embed, but there are copyright issues that we need to look into.   

The bottom line?

Great segment with positive coverage.  There was a quote from a Republican consultant that was relatively benign.  Something like, "The average voter finds political calls helpful."

The registrations are coming in fast and furious.  Thanks everyone!

Federal DNC List - Politicians Can and Will Telemarket To Your Cell Phone, And There Are No Laws To Stop Them

The urban legend that will not die is that big telecom is creating a cell phone 411 directory that will be released to telemarketers.

The email says that you must add your cell phone number to the DNC list by a deadline to avoid being called and to avoid having telemarketers waste your minutes.

It is false.

But......

If politicians get a hold of your cell phone number, watch out!

Wait, you say, aren't cell phone numbers regulated.  Aren't telemarketers banned from calling them?  Yes, and Yes.

But, politicians are exempt. 

Yeap, they are excluded from the federal Do Not Call registry.

So.  If you happen to register to vote and put your cell phone number down on the registration card, you'll be called.

If you happen to contribute to a party or candidate and put your cell phone number down, you'll be called.

And, guess what, there is nothing you can do about it.

Nothing, unless of course you sign up for free to join the National Political Do Not Contact Registry.

What are your thoughts?

clipped from www.washingtonpost.com Agency Seeks to Quell Cell Phone Rumors By CHRISTOPHER S. RUGABER The Associated Press Friday, October 12, 2007; 1:13 PM   WASHINGTON -- An e-mail warning consumers that cell phone numbers will soon be released to telemarketers is making the rounds again, and government officials have a key detail they'd like to add: it's totally bogus. The e-mails say that recipients must add their cell phone numbers to the federal government's Do Not Call registry by a certain deadline in order to avoid being deluged by telemarketing calls. But there is no deadline, cell phone numbers aren't about to be released to telemarketers and it is already illegal for most telemarketers to call mobile phones, the Federal Trade Commission said Friday.   "This is an urban legend that will not die," Katz said, requesting that recipients stop forwarding it to others.

FTC On Hold For Requirement That Consumer Re-Register Phone Numbers After 5 Years

After a large outcry by Congressmen and citizens, the FTC has decided to hold off removing phone numbers that were registered on the national Do Not Call list five years ago in 2003.

The original regulation mandated that numbers would remain for five years and then the consumer would need to re-register or the number would be "purged" from the list (database) and telemarketers could begin to call those numbers again!

This is great news for consumers, not so much for telemarketing firms.

clipped from www.post-gazette.com FTC holds on paring do-not-call list By Patricia Sabatini, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Wednesday, October 24, 2007 The Federal Trade Commission said yesterday it would not remove any telephone numbers from the national Do Not Call registry until federal legislators decide whether to make the list permanent. The agency said it made the decision in response to "consumer concerns regarding this popular program," which blocks most telemarketing calls. Currently, registration expires after five years. People who signed up when the list was launched are scheduled to start falling off the registry in June 2008, unless they re-register.

Launch Press Release --> New Free Political Do Not Contact Registry Lets Voters Tell Politicians to Stop Calling Them at Home

      New Free Political Do Not Contact Registry Lets Voters Tell       Politicians to Stop Calling Them at Home    

   

           

      Website Allows Voters to Opt Out of Receiving Political Calls    

     

WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Voters can now take action to stop unwanted political calls by       registering for free at, www.StopPoliticalCalls.org,       launched today by the National       Political Do Not Contact Registry (NPDNC). The non-partisan,       non-profit organization is designed to stop politicians from calling       voters at home, particularly with automated (or “robo”)       calls.    

   

      The NPDNC fills a void       in the Federal Trade Commission's National Do Not Call Registry (DNC).       Because the First Amendment protects political speech, political calls       are specifically excluded from the DNC. While Americans have registered       nearly 150 million phone numbers with the DNC, Georgetown University       research determined that 3 out of 4 voters do not know that political       calls are exempt from the DNC. This gaping loophole has become a       national problem. In the final weeks of the 2006 election, 64 percent of       voters received recorded messages, according to the Pew Internet &       American Life Project. Approximately 40 percent received between three       and nine automated phone calls during the campaign.    

   

      “I started the registry to improve the quality       of life for the average American during the election season,”       said Shaun Dakin, founder and CEO of the NPDNC.       “Many voters consider their homes to be a       sanctuary and therefore consider calls from politicians and political       groups to be invasive. That experience alone can turn people off from       the entire electoral process. If the NPDNC       can help significantly reduce political calls during the 2008 election,       we will have delivered a significant win for the American family and for       our political system overall.”    

   

      To sign up for the free service, voters simply visit www.StopPoliticalCalls.org       and register their contact information. The organization will then       notify political campaigns of the registrant's preferences.    

   

      If politicians and political campaigns fail to honor the voter requests,       they risk losing votes. Because the NPDNC       has no legal authority to regulate candidates' behavior, it must rely on       the influence of large numbers of individuals to force the necessary       change. The organization is asking the candidates to take a “Do       Not Contact” pledge and promise not to call       the numbers listed on the registry.    

   

      Market research conducted by the NPDNC       during the summer of 2007 overwhelmingly confirms that U.S. voters want       to stop candidates from abusing their right to political speech. Almost       three-quarters of respondents said they are likely to sign up for a Political       Do Not Contact Registry.    

   

      “There is currently a real lack of civil       discourse in American politics that drives voters away from the       political process and voting,” said Wilson R.       Abney, Senior Partner of Ethics Counts, LLC, and a board member of       Citizens for Civil Discourse (CCD), the parent organization of StopPoliticalCalls.org.       “This registry is a great first step toward       bringing back civil discussion in politics, and I believe it will       encourage voters to once again become active participants in the       political process.”    

   

      “What campaigns understand is numbers,”       Dakin said. “The more voters who register       with the NPDNC, the       louder collective voice we will have to make sure they listen to us.       While the organization cannot guarantee to stop unwanted calls, our goal       is to reduce the volume of unwanted calls from an average of 10 per day       to less than three. Ultimately, my goal is to increase voter       participation in the political process by encouraging a civil dialogue       between the public and politicians.”    

   

      Privacy and Security    

   

      The NPDNC takes an       individual's right to privacy very seriously. All information provided       by registrants will be shared only with the politicians who are being       asked not to call. Absolutely no personal data will be sold to a third       party without the registrant's express permission. The website is highly       secure, using state-of-the-art data encryption with servers located in a       secure environment that is monitored 24/7. Only screened and approved NPDNC       employees are allowed access to the system.    

   

      About the National Political Do Not Contact Registry    

   

      The National Political Do       Not Contact Registry is a program of Citizens for Civil       Discourse (CCD), non-partisan non-profit organization (federal       501(c)(3) status pending) dedicated to elevating political discussion in       the United States. CCD is based on the premise that the decline of       civility in American political dialogue has diminished our nation's       capacity to address urgent problems. Founder and CEO Shaun Dakin       believes that citizen action is required to restore decency, respect and       common sense to public debate in this country. CCD created the National       Political Do Not Contact Registry as a first step towards its goal       by reducing unwanted political phone calls, particularly automated       messages (“robo”       calls), which frustrate and annoy voters regardless of party and       ultimately reduce political participation. Because the U.S. Constitution       protects political speech, CCD advocates addressing this issue not by       enacting new legislation but by encouraging voters to talk back and make       free speech a two-way exchange. Learn more at www.StopPoliticalCalls.org.    

What is Civility? First in a series. The Dignity Agenda

Join Citizens for Civil Discourse and register your phone number for free on the National Political Do Not Contact Registry.

BLOG Post:

David Ignatius, an op-ed writer at the Washington Post, had a terrific column today entitled "The Dignity Agenda".   

It got me thinking about creating a series of posts that attempt to explore what "civil discourse" really means?  People ask me, "What do you hope to accomplish with Citizens for Civil Discourse and the National Political Do Not Contact Registry?"

Aren't you actually limiting discourse by allowing voters to remove their phone numbers from politicians voter contact databases?

My answer is an empathic, NO!  No, no, no!  You just don't get it.

Voters today get their political information from a myriad of sources and communication channels.

There is T.V., radio, newspapers, magazines, the Internet, friends, email, events, the mail, and many other ways (including TEXT messaging).

In fact, phone calls are but one of many ways politicians can reach voters.   They just happen to be very efficient (read cheap) and particularly easy for campaigns to execute.   

It is my contention that phone calls, particularly automated or robo calls, are actually doing more harm than anyone can imagine.   

Phones are considered in a different light by most voters.

T.V.'s, radios, and the Internet can all be turned off.

The phone can not.   As a result many voters have told me that they consider political phone calls a violation of their home, their castle as it were.   

One voter told me that in 2006 they received 37 calls in one day.  Yes, one day.

Now imagine if you received 37 calls in one day.

Would you respect politicians?  Would you believe that politicians actual listen to you?  That they care about you?  That they have solutions for you?

No.  Instead, these voters (64% of whom received robo calls in 2006) are hanging up and tuning out of politics, of voting, of caring, and finally of thinking that they can actually DO something; preferring not to engage and, often, not to vote.

How does this get back to the "Dignity Agenda" by David Ignatius?

Well, I believe that civil discourse starts with giving people dignity, with listening to them rather than shouting at them.  It means that people "don't' like to be told what to do by outsiders".  That means the same thing in Iraq as it does in West Virginia, Ohio, Florida, California and every other one of these United States.

Civil discourse can not occur without dignity.

clipped from www.washingtonpost.com The Dignity Agenda By David Ignatius Sunday, October 14, 2007; Page B07   "We talk about democracy and human rights. Iraqis talk about justice and honor." That comment from Lt. Col. David Kilcullen, made at a seminar last month on counterinsurgency, is the beginning of wisdom for an America that is trying to repair the damage of recent years. It applies not simply to Iraq but to the range of problems in a world tired of listening to an American megaphone. As we think about a "dignity agenda," there are some other useful readings. A starting point is Zbigniew Brzezinski's new book, "Second Chance," which argues that America's best hope is to align itself with what he calls a "global political awakening." The former national security adviser explains: "In today's restless world, America needs to identify with the quest for universal human dignity, a dignity that embodies both freedom and democracy but also implies respect for cultural diversity."

You Can Help! - Record Political Calls And Upload Them On The Internet

Want to help The National Political Do Not Call Registry - where you can register your phone number for free - to get politicians to stop calling you at home?

Here is what you can do to help NOW:

1. When you receive a political call, record it on your voice mail or answer phone.
2. Determine the best way to upload the calls recording to the Internet using a site like YouTube.
   • You can see an example if you go here on YouTube.
   • Or here.
3. Upload the full recording ensuring that you document the following:
   
   • The date and time you received the call
   • Who the call was from
   • Where you received the call - home, work, cell, other
4. Send an email to The National Political Do Not Contact (NPDNC) Registry staff with the link to the call recording and include the details in #3 above.
   • Click here to send an email.

What we will then do:

1. On a web page hosted by the NPDNC Registry we will begin to archive political calls from around the country.
2. We will then work with Factcheck.org to determine if the facts in the message are truthful and, if they are not, what the real facts are.
3. The politician who made the call will be then put on notice that we are watching what they are up to.

Thoughts?  Comments?

Here is an example from a Mayor campaign in Memphis, TN :

Ron Paul's Intriguing Candidacy - Will he take the "do not contact pledge"

Join us:  Register your phone number for free at The National Political Do Not Contact Registry and tell politicians to stop calling you at home.

BLOG POST:

I'm intrigued by the Ron Paul candidacy.  He is a small government, low taxes, libertarian, anti war Republican that is out of step with the mainstream GOP candidates and he raised $5 million in the last quarter; just behind Fred Thompson.  Amazing stuff and not to be dismissed.

I wonder if Mr. Paul would be interested in taking the "Do Not Contact" pledge?   That is, do you think that he would pledge to not contact people via phone if they asked not to be?

What are your thoughts?

Here is a Ron Paul campaign video that clearly articulates his appeal to a wide variety of people from all sides of life and politics. I encourage you to watch.