DE Telemarketing Bill Opposed by MDDC has Strong Support in Legislature

DE Telemarketing Bill Opposed by MDDC has Strong Support in Legislature

The MDDC Press Association is opposing a telemarketing bill that appears to have strong support in the Delaware Legislature. Senate Bill 41 would, among other things, establish a statewide "do not call" list that would have to be purchased and adhered to by all businesses.

Other than newspapers, few people are speaking out against a bill that is "politically popular," said C. Malcolm "Mike" Cochran, MDDC’s Delaware lobbyist who testified against the bill at the hearings earlier this month.

Senator Robert Marshall (D), the sponsor of the bill, sees it as being in the public interest because it is voluntary, with citizens having to sign up if they don’t want calls, said Cochran, a lawyer with the Wilmington firm of Richards, Layton and Finger.

However, the measure is not voluntary for businesses using telemarketers who would have to purchase the list and then be banned from calling anyone on it.

Cochran and representatives from The News Journal testified at the hearings, emphasizing the point that telemarketing is the main way subscriptions are sold for many newspapers. Nationally, newspapers rely on telemarketing to obtain 60 percent of their new subscribers. The New Castle County Chamber of Commerce also spoke against the bill.

Speaking in favor were representatives of the American Association of Retired Persons, local small business people and several citizens, all of whom had negative comments about inconvenient calls, said Cochran.

"We need more small businesses that use telemarketing to oppose it," he said. "It’s too early to speculate about defeating it, but it’s likely the bill will have substantial support."

Cochran expects the bill to be voted on by the end of the month.