March 10, 2020 - NobelBiz

No More Cold Sales Calls During State of Emergency It seems oddly prophetic that the State law was signed just a few months before an actual state of emergency. Nevertheless, after Gov. Cuomo called a press conference on March 7, we are witnessing the first time this provision is put to the test. Gov. Cuomo talked about it back in December, saying that sales calls may be annoying during normal days, yet cold calls during emergencies are a danger to public health. It comes as no surprise – during an emergency, most people receive calls from unknown numbers. Those calls could be from health officials, hospitals, friends, or family. The last thing anyone wants during a time of crisis is to be cold-called by a telemarketing agent. It seems that’s exactly the reasoning behind the measure. “On a good day telemarketer calls are a nuisance – during times of emergency they can impede residents’ ability to get the information they need to stay safe […] By signing this measure into law, we will help ensure New Yorkers receive potentially life-saving notifications in real time, creating a safer Empire State for all.” The focus, as Assemblymember David Buchwald aptly put it, is to maintain “open lines of communication” with the world, and not have people wary of picking up the phone for fear that it’s a spam caller.

Day: March 10, 2020

New York Sales Calls Prohibited During Coronavirus State of Emergency