Plymouth, N.H– On Wednesday, February 12th, after receiving numerous complaints from Plymouth State College students, Cathy Bates, Assistant Director of ITS showed her support on behalf of Senate Bill 98-FN, “in order to establish a ‘do-not-call’ list for telephone solicitation” (nationwide). Bates is also in favor of the House Bill 109-FN, which would establish “a New Hampshire do-not-call list for telephone solicitation”. Bates proclaims, “A lot of states have this decision pending; twenty-seven states already have a do-not-call list, and I hope [New Hampshire] will be the twenty-eighth.”
When asked whether or not students have been complaining, Bates quickly replied, “Oh yes, oh yes…all fall, students tell me, call me, and e-mail me. Faculty members have told me that their students in IAC classes have been complaining [about the telemarketers calling their campus residences]. Everyone tells me.” The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) amended the Telemarketing Sales Rule (TSR) to put consumers in charge of the telemarketing calls they get at home. This can not be created until there is funding available. Once funding is available it will take a while before the do-not-call list will be underway; about four months to create the registry, another two months for the consumers to enroll (region by region), and another month before telemarketers are required to search the registry and honor the wishes of the people who do not want to be called. Bates is excited and thinks that the Senate has already approved funding, “It’s really huge,” she says.
People will be able to register for free by calling a toll-free number or online. One has to call from the number they wish to be on the list or provide some information online for confirmation. Fewer calls can be expected within three months of the date registered. The number will then stay on the do-not-call list for five years or until one takes it out or changes phone numbers. After this time, one has the opportunity to renew their registration. The law will require telemark-eters to search the registry every 90 days and delete numbers of consumers that are on the list from their call lists. There will be a toll-free number for people to call or a website if they receive calls and want to make a complaint to the FTC. A telemarketer who disregards the do-not-call list could be fined up to $11,000.
The do-not-call list does not block all telemarketers from calling. Bates says, “You may still be called by a business if you have an affiliation with that business, charities, and political campaigns.” Some businesses may be exempt by the TSR and they will still be able to call people, even if they are on the do-not-call list. These businesses include long distance phone companies, airlines, and insurance companies that operate under state regulations. As Bates mentioned previously, “Many states already have do-not-call lists,” so the FTC will be working with these states in order to avoid duplication. This process will take a year or more, so check http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/edcams/donotcall/index.html, http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/ns/ or your attorney general’s office for details.
Cathy Bates asks if students would help with the effort to create a do-not-call list. She really knows what a frustration these calls are to students. “If you want to put in a testimony, she would be very glad to coordinate it…Students can make such an impact compared to an administrator going down there.” Please feel free to contact Bates at cbates@mail.plymouth.edu with any comments, questions, or concerns.