But other forms of telephone solicitation include charitable and political fund-raising, and market research. State and federal laws apply differently to telemarketing by for-profit businesses with the goal of selling goods and services, than they do to charitable, political and market research organizations, which are exempt from most telemarketing regulations. Products and services are sold through telemarketing.
Valuable information is gathered and shared through telemarketing.
Because of constitutional boundaries protecting commercial and political speech, federal and state law can regulate only certain kinds of commercial telephone solicitation. The Telemarketing and Consumer Fraud and Abuse Prevention Act, which is directed at deceptive and abusive telemarketing practices, also sets strict standards for telemarketing conduct. Many of Vermont's consumer protection laws, such as the Vermont Consumer Fraud Act and Licensed Lender Act, already apply to telemarketing conduct and the telemarketing of certain services and products. The project was developed by a coalition of public and private groups which formed following the 1998 legislative session. During the session, some legislators and executive branch agencies sought to strengthen the means by which consumers could reduce unwanted telemarketing.