The telemarketing no call list is something that you most definitely need to be familiar with and aware of if you engage in telemarketing as part of your marketing and sales program, if you outsource telemarketing duties, or if you provide telemarketing services for other companies.

Historically, telemarketing has been deemed as an annoyance by many due to unscrupulous practices of telemarketers who solicit business through telemarketing, making unwanted calls, sometimes at unreasonable hours, and basically being a nuisance to the people they call.

In addition to the standard annoyances, the telemarketing industry has also developed a bad reputation due to deceptive and fraudulent practices of some telemarketers.

The federal government has taken some initiatives to prevent telemarketing fraud, to improve telemarketing practices, and ultimately to eliminate unnecessary aggravation to consumers.

The telemarketing no call list (also called the "National Do Not Call Registry"), established in a joint effort between the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is central to federal efforts to regulate the telemarketing industry.

The main laws that apply to telemarketing practices are the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) and the Telemarketing and Consumer Fraud Abuse Prevention Act (TCFAPA) enforced by the FCC and the FTC respectively.

If you engage in telemarketing in any form or fashion, you should familiarize yourself with these two Acts and the regulations associated with them.

To learn more about the telemarketing laws and regulations visit the following websites:

Federal Communications Commission: http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/policy/telemarketing.html

Federal Trade Commission: http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/rulemaking/tsr/

Some states have rules and regulations regarding telemarketing and they may have their own telemarketing no call list.

In regard to telemarketing laws and rules, the federal laws supersede state and local laws meaning that if the federal laws are stricter than the state or local laws, the provisions of the federal laws are applicable.

The main website for the National Do Not Call Registry where telemarketers are supposed to register and obtain access to the telemarketing no call list can be found at the following website:

National Do Not Call Registry https://www.donotcall.gov/

Telemarketers are supposed to subscribe to the National Do Not Call Registry and are supposed to check the telemarketing no call list at least once every thirty-one days for the purpose of updating their call lists and removing phone numbers for consumers who have requested to have their numbers listed as numbers that telemarketers are not allowed to call.

Paying attention to the federal laws, regulations and rules regarding telemarketing and addressing them appropriately is the first step to devising an effective (and legal) telemarketing program.

If you are calling numbers that are listed in the Do Not Call Registry you are wasting your time and you are likely to get reported to one or both of the federal agencies that enforce telemarketing laws.

It is in your best interest -monetarily, ethically and professionally - to comply with the laws governing the telemarketing industry.

In addition to the federal laws and regulations that apply to everyone in the United States, be sure to check into your local and state rules regarding telemarketing as well.

If they are more restrictive than the federal laws, make sure that you comply with their provisions as well.

If you are providing telemarketing services as an outsource provider, your compliance with local, state and federal telemarketing rules can actually serve as a competitive advantage setting you apart from other providers who engage in unethical, unprofessional or illegal telemarketing practices.

If your company outsources telemarketing services, be sure to check into your provider's business and compliance practices.

If you run an in-house telemarketing program, educate yourself about the laws, rules and regulations that are applicable to your company and abide by them. Compliance is a winning proposition when it comes to telemarketing.