DO NOT CALL POLICY

This newspaper uses the telephone as one important way to stay in contact with our customers in the community. Because a good relationship with the community is a necessary ingredient of our success, and in keeping with state and federal laws, it is the policy of this newspaper that we will not make sales-related telephone calls to any person who has indicated a desire to not receive such calls. This includes those who have registered with state or federal Do Not Call lists, as well as those who have previously told us directly that they do not wish to receive such calls. Please note: a solicitation call or a sales-related call includes all calls that are made for the purpose of marketing the newspaper. This includes free offers, contests, and calls to existing or past customers asking them to upgrade, extend, or renew their subscriptions. All such calls must comply with this policy. If you are in doubt whether a phone call will fall under this policy, ask newspaper management before you make the call. We require all of our employees, and all others who make telephone calls on our behalf, to understand and adhere to this policy. Your signature on this document will acknowledge that we have explained the policy to you and that you understand it and agree to abide by it at all times.

If you have any questions about the following rules and guidelines, please contact a member of management of the newspaper for clarification.

1. Solicitation calls may be made only between the hours of 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. based on the prevailing time at the location to which you are calling. (Calls to consumers in Kentucky may be made only between 10 a.m. and 9 p.m. Calls to consumers in Colorado, Louisiana and Wyoming may be made only between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. Calls to consumers in Connecticut and Michigan may be made only between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m.)

2. At the beginning of each solicitation call, you must identify yourself, identify this newspaper, and state why you are calling. If requested, you must provide the individual with a telephone number to reach the newspaper.

3. You must terminate a call immediately if a customer requests it. If a customer asks to terminate the call, simply thank them for their time and end the call.

4. During each subscription-related call, you must explain the total cost to receive the newspaper and the quantity of newspapers that are the subject of any offer.

5. DO-NOT-CALL LISTS: There are three (3) Do-Not-Call Lists:

a. The first is our newspaper's own Do-Not-Call List. This list contains the telephone numbers of individuals who have informed this newspaper that they do not want us to call them;

b. The second is the Nationwide Do-Not-Call List. This list is maintained, and enforced, by the FTC and the FCC under federal law; and

c. The third is the additional and separate Statewide Do-Not-Call List in the event you make calls into any of the following states: Georgia (refer to www.ganocall.com for information) Indiana (www.in.gov/attorneygeneral/telephoneprivacy) (the Indiana law does not apply to newspapers that use their own employees to make calls; thus, the Indiana law applies if independent contractors are used Louisiana (www.lpsc.org/donotcall) Missouri (www.ago.state.mo.us) Tennessee (http://ww2.state.tn.us/tra/nocall.htm) Texas (www.texasnocall.com) Utah (not yet in force) (see www.commerce.utah.gov/dcp/donotcall/overview.html) Vermont (Vermont will adopt the nationwide list when it si available, but in the first year, Vermont's list should be used as well) Wisconsin (http://nocall.wisconsin.gov) Wyoming

These states continue to maintain their own separate Do-Not-Call lists and have not yet taken steps to merge their lists with the national one. Any calls into these states must be checked against the newspaper's list, the nationwide list, and the applicable statewide list before dialing. The newspaper uses a computer program that is designed to check these lists. You must not make solicitation calls to telephone numbers that have not been checked against these lists. And UNLESS A SPECIFIC EXCEPTION APPLIES, YOU CANNOT CALL AN INDIVIDUAL WHOSE PHONE NUMBER IS CONTAINED ON ANY OF THESE LISTS.

6. Complying with Do-Not-Call Lists:

a. Our own Do-Not-Call List: This list contains individuals who have informed us that they do not want the newspaper to call them again. DO NOT CALL INDIVIDUALS ON THIS LIST.

b. Do-Not-Call Requests: If you contact a consumer, and the individual indicates that he or she does not want to receive any additional solicitation calls from the newspaper, you must immediately write down the individual's name, address and telephone number and the date of the conversation. (Some customers may refuse to provide a name and address. In these cases, simply write down their telephone number.) After obtaining this information, you must promptly and politely end the call. The information must then be immediately communicated by you to the management of this newspaper so that it can be added to the newspaper's Do-Not-Call List.

c. Nationwide and statewide Do-Not-Call Lists: Under federal law and the laws of certain states listed above, we receive a list of area residents who have signed up for a government-sponsored and government-enforced Do-Not-Call List. Unless an exception applies, you cannot call any person whose telephone number appears on the most current version of any of these lists.

The exceptions to this rule are:

1. You can call a person on the Nationwide and most Statewide Do-Not-Call Lists if this newspaper has or had an established business relationship with the person within the past 18 months. This includes someone who is a current customer, or who cancelled his or her subscription or placed an ad within the last 18 months. If you have any question about whether the newspaper has an established business relationship with a person registered on a government-mandated Do-Not-Call List, please ask your contact person within company management BEFORE you make the call.

i. Important Note: In Indiana, Vermont and Wisconsin, this 12-month period for calling a past customer does not apply. A person on the Indiana, Vermont or Wisconsin list may only be called if he or she is a current customer. In Louisiana, the safe period for calling a past customer is reduced to 6 months.

ii. Please note that a person can terminate an established business relationship with the newspaper, merely by telling you not to call again. If a person with an established business relationship tells yow to not call again, immediately record the request and comunciate the request immediately to the management of this newspaper for addition to the Company-Specific Do-Not-Call List. The politely end the call.

iii. You can call a person who has given the newspaper signed, written permission for you to call. As is the case with an established business relationship, permission to call can be canceled at nay time by the customer.

iv. You can call a person regarding an existing debt or contract if you do not attempt to sell them anything during the call. Remember: if a person is on the Nationwide or Statewide Do-Not-Call List, you must not call them unless a specific exception to the law applies. And, if a person is on this newspaper's own Do-Not-Call List, DO NOT CALL THAT PERSON.

7. If an individual requests a copy of the newspaper's Do-Not-Call policy, you must record that person's name and address, and you must inform the management of the newspaper immediately. The law requires us to give a copy of our policy to anyone who requests it .

8. Similarly, if an individual requests an address in order to mail a Do-Not-Call request to the newspaper, you must provide this information.

9. In addition, in some states, if an individual request the newspaper's state registration number, you must be prepared to provide it. Management of the newspaper will make this information available to you if it is applicable.

10. Do not use the Do-Not-Call Lists for any purpose other than removing individuals from telephone sales lists.

11. Whether you are an employee of the newspaper or an independent contractor, you are required to acknowledge (by signing below) and abide by this policy. Signing this policy does not change your status as either an independent contractor or an employee of the newspaper. You should consult with the newspaper if you have any question regarding your status. By my signature below, I acknowledge that I have read and understand the Do-Not-Call List Policy and I will adhere to this policy and to the laws governing telemarketing solicitation. I understand that any infractions of the forgoing policy are grounds for the termination of my status with the newspaper.

See Archives