Path: utzoo!telecom-request Date: Tue, 23 Apr 91 16:10:30 -0400 From: Ronald Greenberg Newsgroups: comp.dcom.telecom Subject: Restricting Telemarketers Message-ID: Organization: College of Engineering, Maryversity of Uniland, College Park Sender: Telecom@eecs.nwu.edu Approved: Telecom@eecs.nwu.edu X-Submissions-To: telecom@eecs.nwu.edu X-Administrivia-To: telecom-request@eecs.nwu.edu X-Telecom-Digest: Volume 11, Issue 301, Message 7 of 10 Lines: 36 I did a little more research on the question of restricting telemarketers. On the local end, there is a bill pending in the DC city council to prohibit use of automated dialing machines for soliciting people without a preexisting relationship. (There may be some exceptions, e.g., for charitable organizations; I think the bill is modeled on the MD law.) I was told by a staffer that the bill is expected to pass, and I told them I would like to see it extended to calls by humans, but I don't have any expectation of that happening soon. Unfortunately, I think these state (or district) bills are limited to intrastate calls. I also talked to somebody at the Public Service Commission for DC in the hope that they could do something, especially in the case of the telephone company making telemarketing calls. He said that the corresponding commission in PA tried to stop the telco from telemarketing, and the courts said they couldn't do it. But he couldn't tell me why. I presume it's because it applied only to the telco or because it was done by regulation instead of legislation, since there is restrictive legislation in Florida (and CA?), and it's being considered elsewhere. I also learned from somebody at the FCC that there is proposed legislation in the US Congress to put some kind of limitations on telemarketing, but I haven't yet gotten details. I was pointed to Congressman Markey's office. I think that's because he runs the correct committee rather than because he proposed the legislation. From there I was pointed to somebody named John Kinney, who I believe is a member of the committee staff. I haven't yet managed to talk to him to get details about the bill. If and when I learn more, I'll post. Ron Greenberg rig@eng.umd.edu