Podcast Center
Video Center
Webcasts
Resource Center
Events
August 10, 2003 at 08:00 PM
IIABA May Go To Court Over FCCs Do Not Call Regs
By
Washington
The Independent Insurance Agents and Brokers of America may go to court to try to overturn new Federal Communications Commission regulations subjecting the insurance industry to “do not call” telemarketing requirements. (See NU, Aug. 4.)
“We are fully prepared to file a lawsuit if necessary,” says Maria Berthoud, senior vice president of federal affairs for the IIABA.
Currently, she says, IIABA is looking at the possibility of a legislative solution. Agents, Berthoud says, are forming a coalition with realtors and other professionals who are affected by the FCCs “do not call” regulation.
In addition, she says, IIABA is launching a grass-roots effort, asking agents to contact their members of Congress to express their opposition.
Berthoud notes that in addition to a requirement that agents and others affected by the new regulation check a “do not call” list before contacting a prospect with whom there is no prior business relationship, the FCC also establishes a “do not fax” requirement.
The “do not fax” provision does not allow anyone to send unsolicited fax messages, even if the recipient does have a preexisting business relationship, Berthoud notes.
The “do not fax” provision, she says, is at least as important to agents as the “do not call” provision.
