<?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>
<section article="gpu" article_name="Public Utilities" number="8-205" title_number="8" title_name="Telegraph and Telephone Companies" subtitle_number="2" subtitle_name="Telephone Service">
  <level label="a">
    <level label="1">
      <text>In this section, “telephone solicitation” means an organized activity, program, or campaign to communicate by telephone with residents of Maryland in order to:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>sell, lease, or rent goods or services;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>attempt to sell, lease, or rent goods or services;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>offer or attempt to offer a gift or prize;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iv">
        <text>conduct or attempt to conduct a poll; or</text>
      </level>
      <level label="v">
        <text>request or attempt to request survey information, if the results of the survey will be used directly to solicit persons to purchase, lease, or rent goods or services.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>“Telephone solicitation” includes the act of managing, directing, or supervising an individual engaged in telephone solicitation under paragraph (1) of this subsection.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <text>This section does not apply to a unit of federal, State, or local government.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="c">
    <text>If the telephone service or equipment of a person engaged in telephone solicitation allows that person to choose to restrict or display the transmission of the person’s telephone number to the recipient of a telephone solicitation, the person may not:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>intentionally use any device or method to block the transmission of the person’s telephone number to a recipient; or</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>take any other action to prevent or control the transmission of the person’s telephone number to a recipient.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="d">
    <text>A person who violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and on conviction is subject to:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>for a first offense, a fine not exceeding $1,000; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>for each subsequent offense, a fine not exceeding $5,000.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
</section>
