State’s do-not-call list to merge with federal

AUGUSTA – 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, according to state Attorney General Steven Rowe.

New rules were announced by the Federal Trade Commission on Wednesday that will expand the federal role in regulating the telemarketing industry, which now makes 104 million calls per day and $278 billion annually, according to published reports.

When the federal list becomes active, Mainers who have registered on the state list will be placed on the federal list as well and will be protected by both state and federal law, Rowe said.

Since the Maine Attorney General’s Office offered do-not-call registration in late September, more than 26,000 Mainers have signed up. For information, visit www.maine.gov/ag/donotcall.

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