Columbia Park Neighborhood Association

“Do Not Call”

Feb 21, 2003

?“Do Not Call?”
Minnesota?’s Do Not Call list, established by the 2002 legislature and signed into law by Governor Ventura, is expected to reduce the number of unsolicited telemarketing calls to consumers. Minnesota residents may register their phone numbers-at no charge-on the Do Not Call list, and telemarketers are required to remove those phone numbers from their databases.
?“Minnesota consumers have made it quite clear that they want some relief from unwanted telemarketing,?” said commissioner Bernstein. ?“There are roughly 2.2 million residential phone lines in Minnesota. I would not be surprised if half of those numbers are eventually registered on the DO Not Call list.?”
As of January 1, 2003, telemarketers will be required to purchase a new Do Not Call list every three months. Violators will face civil penalties of up to $1,000 per violation, and repeat offenders could be barred from all telemarketing in the state. The Departmant of Commerce will maintain the list and enforce the law.
organizations working to implement these changes, such as the AFCAC, representing neighborhood organizations, industry/business and environmental groups for the Above the Falls plan. Wayne Olson, Minneapolis Community Developement Agency project coordinator, thinks the AFCAC has a unique oppurtunity to assist the River Resorce Forum?’s work group as they move ahead drafting the pool plans. Not only can the group be a voice for the upper river community, Olson says, it can also be ?“an invaluable resource for historical informtion, current wishes and future plans.?”

To Sign up for the Do Not Call list, call the Department of Commerce at 651-296-7107. Be aware though that certain organizations are exempt from the law and do not have to purchase the Do Not Call list. These organaizations are:
-Non Profit organizations
-Businesses with a prior relationship with the customer
-Political organizations
-Solicitors that do not intend to complete the sale over the phone, but rather complete the transaction in a face to face meeting
other provisions in the No Call List Law:
-All telemarketers will be prohibited from using devices that disable caller ID on consumers?’ telephones.
-Telemarketers will be required to immediately identify themselves, the company they represent, and the product they are selling.
-If the Federal Trade Commission develops a nationwide ?“do not call list,?” Minnesota?’s list will be automatically included on the national register. In that case, companies that obtain the federal list would not be required to purchase the state list.