Washington (June 26, 2018) – Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), House author of the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA), today led a group of 14 Senators in calling for the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to establish protections for consumers from unwanted and harassing robocalls and robotexts.
“In an era when the onslaught of unwanted and abusive robocalls is on the rise, we are concerned that the absence of core protections would result in even more invasive calls and texts,” write the Senators in their letter to FCC Chairman Ajit Pai. “It is the FCC’s obligation to use its existing authority to reestablish robust, enforceable protections to enhance the precious zone of privacy created by the law.”
A copy of the letter can be found HERE.
The FCC recently issued a Public Notice seeking comment on the interpretation of the TCPA in light of a recent decision by the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals, which struck down portions of a 2015 FCC Omnibus Declaratory Ruling and Order limiting the definition of automatic telephone dialing systems (auto dialers), the technologies that can be used to rapidly call and text large groups of consumers. The ruling also vacated rules discouraging callers from making more than one unwanted call or text to a reassigned number. While the Court maintained the right to revoke consent, the Court’s ruling could be interpreted to suggest that callers could limit consumers’ method to revoke consent to receive robocalls and robotexts through provisions buried in contracts or service agreements.
Also signing the letter are Senators Robert Menendez (D-N.J.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wisc.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.).
In their letter, the Senators call on the FCC to:
###
