The U.S. government has made laws to prevent telemarketers from abusing and invading a persons privacy within their home.  Each state also provides their own set of laws dealing with telemarketing.

    There are two major laws enforced by the U.S. government.

   The Telephone Consumer Protection Act was adopted in 1991.

  Prohibits the use of automatic dialers to homes or businesses.
  Requires do-not-call requests be honored for 10 years.  Persons can request to be put on these lists
             when the telemarketer call their home or business, or can fill out request forms put out by the government.
  Requires telemarketers to accept a phone number without a name or address, on a do-not-call list
  Upholds telemarketer identification requirement of providing telephone number or address for every call.

  The Telemarketing Sales Rule is enforced by he Federal Trade Commission.  This law deals with
           telemarketing fraud.  However, consumers cannot take action themselves unless more than $50,000 is lost,
           otherwise they have to contact the FTC of their state attorney general.