Connecticut recently passed S.B. 209, a new law aimed at
aggressive telemarketing tactics. The law, which goes into effect
on October 1, 2014, strengthens Connecticut's already existing
"Do Not Call Registry" by banning unsolicited commercial
text and media messages and "robocalls" without prior
affirmative consent by the consumer. Thus, regardless of whether a
consumer has already requested to be placed on the Do Not Call
Registry, the law prohibits traditional text messages; messages
that contain audio, photographic, or video content; and
automatically dialed calls that play prerecorded content when
answered, unless the consumer has first assented to their
receipt.
The Federal Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) also bans the
foregoing tactics. Thus, in case potential class action lawsuits
brought for TCPA violations weren't enough of a disincentive,
Connecticut's new law, which can cost as much as $20,000 for
each violation, may help discourage some telemarketers from
potentially overreaching./p>
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