ROWE SAYS STATE, FEDERAL DO-NOT-CALL LISTS WILL WORK TOGETHER

December 3, 2002

DECEMBER 19, 2002
STEVEN ROWE, ATTORNEY GENERAL
207-626-8599

Attorney General Steven Rowe said today that Mainers should place their names on Maine's telemarketing do-not-call list, even though the federal government may soon maintain a national do-not-call list. (See www.ftc.gov for more information.) The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced new rules yesterday that will expand the federal role in regulating the telemarketing industry, which now makes 104 million calls each day and makes $278 billion annually, according to published reports.

"When the federal list becomes active, we will put the Mainers who have registered through our site on that list as well. At that time, Maine people will be protected by both State and federal law," said Rowe.

Maine is one of only about half of the states that currently require telemarketers to remove from their call lists the names of consumers who sign up for a central list. "The attorneys general have been assured by the FTC that we will retain the authority to enforce the state and federal laws controlling telemarketing. I am optimistic that we can all work together to provide increased protection for consumers," said Rowe.

Since the Maine AG's Office offered online do-not-call registration in late September, 26,346 Mainers have signed up.