A federal judge in Denver has ruled that the federal “Do-Not-Call” list is unconstitutional because it restrains freedom of speech.

The ruling by U.S. District Court Judge Edward Nottingham came about an hour after Congress passed legislation making it clear that the Federal Trade Commission was empowered to enforce the no-call list.

Lawmakers had moved with lightening speed to pass the bill, after a ruling on Tuesday by a federal judge in Oklahoma found that the FTC lacked the authority to implement the list, and that only the Federal Communications Commission could do so.

September 26, 2003