There's nothing quite so annoying for a busy modern American than an unsolicited call from an unknown number in the middle of the day. Perhaps it's that burden of being busy that prevented any members of the public from attending an open meeting Thursday about updating the regulations governing the state's Do Not Call Registry.
The listening sessions to solicit comments on updating the registry rules are part of Gov. Charlie Baker's push to review all of the state's business regulations. Though not many interested parties have requested changes to the phone list rulebook, any suggestions will be reviewed by the executive branch.
With Baker pushing to revamp all of the state's regulations to relieve burdens on businesses, rules on everything from funeral homes to fisheries are up for review.
The list went into effect in 2003, when legislation was passed enabling the Office of Consumer Affairs to maintain a registry of phone numbers that companies are not allowed to make sales calls to. People opt into the list and, at least theoretically, they are protected from unwanted calls.
Under the law, violators can be fined up to $5,000 for each time they knowingly called someone on the Do Not Call list. And the fine gets bumped up a bit if phone solicitors are preying on grandma: Violations carry a minimum fine of at least $1,500 for a knowing violation involving a consumer 65 or older.
The rules against calling numbers on the list are enforced by the Attorney General's Office. Though the office of Attorney General Maura Healey could not say how many violations of the law the state has prosecuted since it's been on the books, the AG does mediate complaints stemming from the Do No Call list.
There are some exceptions from the blocked call list, however. Registry or not, Massachusetts residents can't get out of noncommercial polls and surveys, calls from nonprofits and calls to existing customers.
There is also a national Do Not Call Registry operated by the Federal Trade Commission.
