Unsolicited Phone Calls Subject to Fine up to $16,000 per Call

Rejoice! Automated and unsolicited phone calls in which businesses try to push products on consumers will soon be punishable by fines up to $16,000 per call, according to the US Federal Trade Commission.

Calls from politicians, public service announcements and "informational" calls will be exempt from the new rule. A call alerting a traveler that his or her flight has been delayed would still be allowed, for example. Banks, telephone carriers and most charitable organizations are also excluded from the ban, the FTC says. The FTC asks people to report questionable robocalls by visiting its complaint Website or by calling 1-877-FTC-HELP.