"Me" posted on Sept 2007 research companies are exempt from the do not call list.

That's NOT true.  Those companies will tell you the same thing, too.  Look CLOSELY at the FTC code, and it does NOT say "research" companies are exempt.  If you want to get specific - they'r soliciting for information.  But in fact... government surveys and non-profit research are the ONLY exempt!  I went head to head with a research CEO, and finally conceded I was correct.