FCC Seeks Public Comment on TCPA Reform

In the US, the FCC is seeking public input to a rewrite of the TCPA (Telephone Consumer Protection Act), following the rejection of much of the 2015 legislation by a DC Circuit Court.

MR body the Insights Association has been a prominent critic of the draconian 2015 provisions, leading petitions and supplying notes and clarifications for lawmakers. Up for discussion are:

1. what constitutes an automatic telephone dialing system
2. how to treat calls to reassigned wireless numbers under the TCPA
3. how a called party may revoke prior express consent to receive robocalls
4. whether or not government contractors are 'persons' under the TCPA, and thus whether or not they are liable for TCPA violations; and
5. whether the FCC's 2016 federal debt collection rules need to be updated.

Comments are due to the FCC by June 13th, and reply comments are due by June 28th, raising the prospect of new rules as early as August.

A full discussion of each of the 5 issues can be found at www.insightsassociation.org/article/fcc-quickly-seeks-comments-inform-tcpa-reform - and the Association is urging members to contribute their expert views.