FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
South Dakota Public Utilities Commission
Contact: Pamela A. Bonrud or Bonnie Bjork
Phone Number: 605-773-3201
Date: May 21, 2003

South Dakota consumers will be able to put an end to most telemarketing calls by registering this summer with the South Dakota Public Utilities Commission's Do-Not-Call List.

Sign up will be free and take place in July via a toll-free number and a secured internet site. The site address and telephone number will be announced closer to the actual sign up date, but details about the program, including answers to frequently asked questions are now available at a new PUC website: www.sddonotcall.com.

"Signing up on the Do-Not-Call List will be an easy way to end or significantly decrease the irritating interruptions that take place during meals, family time and throughout the day," according to PUC Vice Chairman Gary Hanson.

"Getting the Do-Not-Call List passed into law was our top consumer protection issue," said PUC Chairman Bob Sahr. "We thank Governor Rounds and the State Legislators, especially Senator McCracken, for their bipartisan support."

The South Dakota Do-Not-Call List will be partnered with the Federal Trade Commission "Do-Not-Call" Registry. This means that consumers will be required to sign up just once to be included on both the South Dakota and National Do-Not-Call Lists. Consumers can register their home and cell phones.

After the initial sign up period, telemarketers will have to obtain a copy of the register and then cannot call telephone numbers on the list. It is expected that telemarketing calls will decrease beginning in October. Companies who call consumers after that date will be subject to a fine of up to $5,000 per violation. South Dakotans will be able to register complaints with the South Dakota Public Utilities Commission.

Commissioners Sahr and Hanson will be holding a news teleconference on May 22, 2003, at 1:15 PM CDT. The news conference phone number is 605-773-6154. If you are unavailable to connect with the teleconference, please call 605-773-3201 and ask for Steve Wegman.