The Direct Marketing Association said yesterday that it had filed formal comments with the Federal Trade Commission opposing proposed changes to the Telemarketing Sales Rule, which include a national do-not-call list.
Proposed changes to the TSR would punish legitimate telemarketers and put many out of business while fraudulent firms would flee overseas and continue their activities, said H. Robert Wientzen, DMA president/CEO. Furthermore, the FTC proposals would hurt the national economy and hinder entry-level employees and minorities from finding jobs, the DMA said.
Only about 50 percent of the telemarketing industry would be affected by FTC regulations, the DMA said. In contrast, the association's Telephone Preference Service, a privately held DNC list that DMA members are required to use, affects 80 percent of the industry, the association said.
The DMA's formal comments were filed April 15, the deadline for the submission of written comments to the FTC on its proposed changes to the TSR.
