OTTAWA-GATINEAU – The CRTC has upheld its rules relating to automated calling devices in an effort to further protect the privacy of Canadians from telemarketers.
On Monday, the Commission turned down an application by the Canadian Marketing Association (CMA) to loosen the rules around the use of automatic dialing-announcing devices (ADAD). Specifically, the CMA had asked to make automated calls without having express consent, when there is an existing business relationship between the telemarketer or client of the telemarketer and the called party.
The CRTC said that it considered the CMA's proposal in the context of a broader public review of the Unsolicited Telecommunications Rules (UTR), initiated in March 2013.
“The CRTC is not prepared to water down its rules on automated telemarketing”, said CRTC chairman Jean-Pierre Blais, in a statement. “This respects the choice Canadians have made not to be disturbed. Telemarketers must have the express consent of Canadians to contact them in their homes using automated calling devices.”
The Commission also made some minor tweaks to the UTR on Monday. Effective June 30, when Canadians make a request to be placed on a telemarketer’s internal do not call list, that telemarketer will now have 14 days to update their information and remove these numbers from their calling lists. That period used to be 31 days.
Also, telemarketers using automated calling devices to make an unsolicited call will now be required to briefly identify the purpose of their call at the beginning of the communication, allowing Canadians to decide right away if they wish to continue with the call. In addition, telemarketers must make sure that the contact information, such as a telephone number or address, provided during a call remains valid for a minimum of 60 days. There was no validity period for this information previously. These changes take effect immediately.
