(Direct Newsline)—More than three quarters of U.S. adults have registered their primary telephone numbers on the national Do-Not-Call registry, and as a result, have significantly reduced the number of unwanted telemarketing calls they receive, the FTC said in its annual report to Congress last week.

Moreover, evidence indicates that marketers are, for the most part, complying with the Do-Not-Call provisions of the Telemarketing Sales Rule, the FTC said.

Seventy-six percent of U.S. adults had registered their primary phone numbers as of December, 2005.compared to 57% in 2004. Ninety-two percent of consumers surveyed who registered their numbers said they experienced a decrease in telemarketing calls, according to the FTC.

Also, as of fiscal 2005, which ended Sept. 30, the FTC had received just 1.2 million complaints, representing about 1% of total numbers on the registry at the time.

“This is indicative of both a high degree of compliance by telemarketers and a meaningful reduction in unwanted telephone calls for consumers who have registered their telephone numbers,” the FTC’s report said.

At the end of fiscal 2005, the registry contained more than107.4 million telephone numbers. Though registry usage is high, the number of organizations accessing the national do-not-call registry is shrinking. In 2005, 6,794 organizations paid a total of $18 million to access the registry, the report said. In 2004, 7,734 organizations paid a total of $14 million to access the registry, the FTC said.

Also as of the end of 2005, the registry had taken in $37.5 million in fees. The registry costs telemarketers $56 per area code up to a maximum $15,400. The first five area codes are free. In 2005, 58,023 organizations accessed the registry for five or fewer area codes, the report said.

The registry now contains more than 107 million telephone numbers, the FTC said.

The FTC filed six cases alleging do-not-call violations in 2005, bringing the total to 14, the report said. As of Sept. 30, 2005, the FTC had reached settlements with 10 of the 14 Telemarketers who violate the do-not-call registry are subject to up to $11,000 in fines per violation.

American Teleservices Association CEO Tim Searcy was not immediately available for comment.

More than three quarters of U.S. adults have registered their primary telephone numbers on the national do-not-call registry, and as a result, have significantly reduced the number of unwanted telemarketing calls they receive, the FTC said in its annual report to Congress last week.

Moreover, evidence indicates that marketers are for the most part, complying with the Do-Not-Call provisions of the Telemarketing Sales Rule, the FTC said.

Seventy six percent of U.S. adults had registered their primary phone numbers as of December, 2005.compared to 57% in 2004, according to the FTC. Ninety two percent of consumers surveyed who registered their numbers said they experienced a decrease in telemarketing calls, according to the FTC.

Also, as of fiscal 2005, which ended Sept. 30, the FTC had received just 1.2 million complaints, representing about 1% of total numbers on the registry at the time.