DMA to Combine State Do-Not-Call Lists with TPS

The Direct Marketing Association will begin offering most state do-not-call lists with its Telephone Preference Service file, the association is expected to announce next week.

The service is a potential solution to a growing problem that has plagued telemarketers required to navigate regulations governing dozens of state do-not-call laws.

All 50 states have either passed, or have legislation pending for similar laws, with many expected to enact ordinances within the next 18 months. Last month, Pennsylvania became the 27th state to put into law a do-not-call telemarketing list.

The service will be administered by Interactive Marketing Solutions (IMS), a subsidiary of the DMA. TPS is a do-not-call service where consumers can opt-out of receiving telemarketing calls. The file includes about 4.5 million phone numbers.

IMS also hopes to enhance TPS with a national do-not-call list, should one come to fruition as proposed by the Federal Trade Commission. The DMA has made clear to the FTC that it does not support a national federal list and recommends the use of its TPS to both DMA members and non-members, said Frank Rigano, CEO of IMS.

The file will be updated as IMS receives refreshed lists from the states, Rigano said.

Last month, the DMA announced that it would no longer provide home address data as part of its TPS but would continue to maintain that information in house. The move caused alarm among some telemarketers who said the change could hamper marketing efforts.

DMA members are required to use TPS as part of the group’s Privacy Promise.