Telemarketer Agrees to Stop Improper Use of Prerecorded Messages
Defendants Agree to Pay $1 Million Civil Penalty for TSR Violations and to Permanent Bar on Violating the FTC’s Do Not Call and Abandoned Call Rules
The Federal Trade Commission today announced that a “voice broadcaster” charged with making tens of millions of illegal automated telemarketing calls has agreed to pay a $1 million civil penalty under a settlement reached with the agency and the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ).
A federal district court action brought by DOJ on behalf of the Commission alleges that the Florida-based telemarketer’s automated phone dialing service called and then illegally hung up on more than 64 million people – and called more than a million numbers that were listed on the National Do Not Call (DNC) Registry. To settle this action, the telemarketer and its owners have agreed to a proposed court order that will prohibit them from making similar calls in the future and require them to pay the $1 million penalty.
According to the Commission, The Broadcast Team (TBT) and its two principals, Robert J. Tuttle and Mark S. Edwards, violated the FTC’s Telemarketing Sales Rule (TSR) in the course of using “voice broadcasting” to call millions of U.S. consumers using automated dialers and prerecorded messages. Many of the numbers TBT called were on the DNC Registry, making the calls themselves unlawful. The FTC also charged that TBT failed to pay for access to the DNC Registry’s numbers in numerous instances. Read more
Bangladesh Travel Announcement
This Public Announcement reminds American citizens of concerns about the fluid security situation in Bangladesh and strongly urges U.S. citizens to closely monitor current information before traveling to the country. This Public Announcement supersedes the Public Announcement for Bangladesh dated January 12, 2007, and expires on April 23, 2007.
On January 11, 2007, President Ahmed stepped down as leader of the Caretaker Government after declaring a state of emergency. Elections previously scheduled for January 22 have been postponed indefinitely. The political and security situation throughout Bangladesh remains fluid. An initial curfew has been lifted, but a new curfew could be reinstated at any time. There is the potential for American citizens to become caught up in demonstrations or other situations which do not directly target them. The Embassy expects the situation throughout Bangladesh to remain uncertain for the foreseeable future, and the Department of State strongly urges U.S. citizens to closely monitor the most up-to-date information before traveling to the country. Read more
Senegal Travel Announcement
This Public Announcement is being issued to advise American citizens to defer most non-essential travel to the Casamance region due to an increase in violence there. This Public Announcement is valid until March 23, 2007.
In the past month, there has been fighting on both sides of the Casamance river between rebels and the Senegalese military. Due to the increased violence and the unpredictability of the current security situation in the Casamance region, the Department of State recommends against all nonessential travel to the Casamance region, except direct air travel to the Cap Skirring resort area or to the city of Ziguinchor. Read more
Cricket World Cup Travel Announcement
This Public Announcement is being issued to alert American citizens about the Cricket World Cup sporting tournament taking place at several Caribbean locations from March 5 – April 28, 2007. The global popularity of cricket is expected to attract fans to the Caribbean. Americans planning travel to the Caribbean during this timeframe are strongly advised to be aware of tournament dates and locations, and take appropriate measures to safeguard their personal safety and property. All American citizens traveling to and from the Caribbean by air must be in possession of a valid, unexpired passport.
Cricket World Cup matches are scheduled in Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and Trinidad and Tobago. Increased demands on services in countries hosting the Cricket World Cup may strain the availability of taxis, emergency medical response, and other public services. The busy tourist season, already under way during the March – April period, will be affected by the the Cricket World Cup. U.S. citizens should take this into consideration in planning travel to the Caribbean islands. More information about the tournament, including match dates and locations, can be viewed at http://www.cricketworldcup.com. Read more
Guinea Travel Warning Update
This Travel Warning is being issued to alert American citizens to the dangers of travel to Guinea at this time. A general strike, now in its third week, turned violent in recent days, and despite ongoing negotiations retains the potential for further violence. The Department of State has authorized the departure of eligible family members. This is voluntary on their part and is not a mandatory evacuation. American citizens are strongly urged to defer travel to Guinea until the situation stabilizes. This supersedes the Public Announcement dated January 19, 2007.
The general strike has been increasingly violent at times, resulting in at least 50 deaths in recent days. Demonstrations, rock-throwing, tire-burning, and barricades have occurred in Conakry and in towns around the country. Read more
Burundi Travel Warning Update
This Travel Warning is being re-issued to provide updated information on the security situation and to remind Americans of the dangers of travel to Burundi. This supersedes the Travel Warning of June 23, 2006.
The Department of State continues to warn U.S. citizens against travel to Burundi. Burundi had been plagued by civil war since 1993 that often involved non-government, non-combatant targets. Gunfire in and around the capital resulted in numerous injuries and deaths. In September 2006, the government and the last remaining hold-out rebel group from the peace process, the PALIPEHUTU – FNL, signed a cease fire agreement. Nevertheless, many of the cease-fire provisions have not been implemented and the rebels still retain the capability to conduct indirect fire attacks on the capital, Bujumbura. The last recorded attack took place in July 2006. Rebels are still present throughout Bujumbura Rural, which surrounds the capital city. Due to insufficient resources, local authorities are often unable to provide assistance in case of need. Read more
Nigeria Travel Warning Update
This Travel Warning is being re-issued to note a further deterioration in the security situation in the Niger Delta region, due to recent car bombings in the city of Port Harcourt and continuing kidnappings of expatriates in that area. American citizens should depart from and defer non-essential travel to Delta, Bayesa, and Rivers states. This Warning also provides an update on aviation safety in Nigeria and addresses upcoming elections. It supersedes the Travel Warning for Nigeria issued August 24, 2006.
The Department of State continues to warn U.S. citizens of the dangers of travel to Nigeria. The lack of law and order in Nigeria poses considerable risks to travelers. Violent crime committed by ordinary criminals, as well as by persons in police and military uniforms, can occur throughout the country and tends to peak between November and January, during the holiday period. Read more