Dish Network sued for breaking 'do-no-call' law

A suit was filed on Wednesday against satellite TV service Dish Network, saying that many consumers on the national do-not-call list were called on its behalf.

The federal suit claims that Dish directly and through its authorized dealers, called customers on the National Do Not Call Registry. The complaint also alleged that the company broke federal telemarketing rules by assisting its authorized dealers in marketing Dish Network services via automatic "robocalls" to potential customers.

Eileen Harrington, director of the FTC's Bureau of Consumer Protection, said the the National Do Not Call Registry has been very effective at protecting Americans from unwanted telemarketing calls at home. She also said "But because a few bad actors still don't' get it, we want to make it crystal clear. If you call consumers whose numbers are on the Do Not Call Registry, you're breaking the law."

The government is considering civil penalties for Dish, which have not been specified. It also wants a ban against Dish Network; keeping it from violating do-no-call and telemarketing laws and requiring it to monitor its dealers' compliance.

Less Demand for Phones Will Cause 1,700 Layoffs

The world's larges maker of cell phones, Nokia, plans to eliminate about 3 percent of its work force as demand for phones drops. The company, based in Finland, said that 700 workers there would be laid off and the rest in Europe, Asia, and North America. The layoffs will take place in the company's division that produces, markets, and sells mobile phones.

The job cuts are part of Nokia's plan to decrease its annual operating expenses by 700 million, or about 11 percent of their total expenses.

Nokia has stopped designing phones for the Japanese market as another cost-cutting strategy. They also plan to freeze salaries, hiring, and nonessential travel.