By Jonathan D. Salant
The Associated Press

WASHINGTON - Consumers have until Sunday to add their phone numbers to the 41.7 million already on a list to block telemarketing calls starting Oct. 1.

K. Dane Snowden, chief of the Federal Communications Commission's consumer and government affairs bureau, said those who sign up for the do-not-call list after this weekend likely will have to wait until early next year before calls are blocked.

There will not be enough time to process requests received after Sunday to add numbers to the first national do-not-call list; and telemarketers, once they check the names Oct. 1, won't have to look again for another three months, Snowden said.

Telemarketers have asked the federal courts to block the new rules, saying they violate their free speech rights. The case is pending.

The Federal Trade Commission is administering the list, while both the FCC and FTC are enforcing it. The list has proven extremely popular with consumers, with officials saying they expect it to contain up to 60 million phone numbers by the end of the year.

"Individuals want to have some control over the telephone calls coming to their homes every single day," Snowden said.

In addition, telemarketing calls by Jan. 1 must carry a name and phone number that will show up on Caller ID, Snowden said. Such calls often now only say "out of area."

The FTC has estimated that the list will block about 80 percent of telemarketing calls. Charities, pollsters and political campaigns are exempt. In addition, a company may call a person if he or she has bought, leased or rented from the firm in the previous 18 months or has inquired about or applied for something during the past three months.

To get added, call (888) 382-1222 or visit www.donotcall.gov