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The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) today unanimously approved new regulations under the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) – the key law restricting telephone survey research across the U.S. – that will prohibit most telemarketing robocalls while continuing to permit survey research calls.

"Sugging" is a term used by survey researchers to describe the unethical practice of selling under the guise of research.

Recent wins for pharmaceutical marketing research in Maine and DC leave only West Virginia and Vermont as the jurisdictions currently restricting or prohibiting research with physicians and healthcare professionals.

Michigan Governor Rick Snyder (R) signed H.B. 4314 into law as Public Act 58 of 2011 on June 14.

MRA's cooperative lobbying efforts with the American Association of Political Consultants (AAPC) bore fruit this year in Alabama and Alaska.

The Commerce Manufacturing and Trade Subcommittee approved legislation yesterday that would strengthen the security of consumer data, while also making two important changes crucial to the conduct of marketing research in the United States.

Texas governor, Rick Perry, has signed a new health bill, H.B. 300, into law that enforces new obligations in addition to the requirements of the HIPAA privacy rule. The law, which becomes effective September 1, 2012, provides an expansive definition of a covered entity and is likely to include non-covered entities under HIPAA, including survey researchers.

On July 13, the House Appropriations Committee passed the Fiscal Year 2012 Commerce/Justice/Science Appropriations legislation, which had already cut about 25% from Census funding compared to FY11, without an amendment which would have further sliced away at the Census Bureau's budget.

Today, the House Appropriations Committee will consider amendments to the Fiscal Year 2012 Commerce/Justice/Science Appropriations legislation, which already cut about 25% from Census funding compared to FY11.

MRA testified this morning on legislation in the Vermont legislature, S. 104, which would legalize research with physicians.