The Hindu Business Line : TRAI steps in to curb telemarketing calls

Considering the growing dissatisfaction among consumers over unsolicited telemarketing calls, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has initiated a consultation process with the aim of reducing the bulk of unsolicited commercial communications (UCC).

UCC includes telemarketing calls, SMS or other commercial or marketing messages.

The TRAI proposes to set up a national do-not-call register that allows subscribers to specify that they do not want telemarketers to call them. If a telemarketer makes a call to a person listed on the do-not-call register, they will face a significant fine.

"The aversion of many subscribers towards invasion of privacy and the nuisance of telemarketing has found expression in different forums. Over the past year, commercial unsolicited calls have engaged the time and attention of the Rajya Sabha, the Supreme Court, the Delhi High Court, the Reserve Bank of India and the State Commission (Consumer) of Delhi," said a TRAI release.

"Further, the authority has received numerous subscriber and consumer complaints about unsolicited calls and SMS. There have been attempts to resolve this problem, but the current solutions are fragmented and have not been comprehensive."

Many countries around the world have implemented mechanisms to reduce UCC, including the US.

TRAI said that its intention was not to ban telemarketing activity in itself but to reduce the number of telemarketing calls to people who do not wish to receive them.

"Indeed, the telemarketing industry will benefit from this move because it will reduce the number of calls they will need to make to reach interested potential customers."

The telecom regulator has sought public comments on who should be responsible for stopping telemarketing calls - the service providers or telemarketers - and what kind of penalties should be imposed on do-not-call violators.

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