On June 18, 2015 the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) issued a Declaratory Ruling to protect consumers from automated phone calls (robocalls). In doing so the FCC responds to numerous consumer complaints. The most important elements of the Ruling are:
- Firms remain banned from calling or sending text messages via cell phone without consent of customers, despite of heavy lobbying in advance.
- The ruling enforces the Telephone Consumer Protection Act, which prohibits robocalls for purposes of telemarketing or surveys.
- Only in case of credit card fraud or exigent matters are finance institutions and health providers allowed to contact their customers via automated text messages.
In addition the FCC encourages carriers to promote “Do Not Disturb”-technologies. Initiating the campaign “End Robocalls” the consumer organization Consumers Union collected 330.000 signatures for a petition to carriers to offer free blocking-technologies. Linda Sherry, spokesperson of Consumer Action, noted: “Today, the FCC stands by consumers with its clear message to industry that consumers have the right to control the calls and texts they receive.
Source: Consumer Federation of America
Further information can be found here.