Rep. Schakowsky and Rep. Mullin Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Crack Down on Robocalls
This bill was recently introduced and is currently being reviewed by the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. It is in the early stages of the legislative process and is considered active. There are no upcoming votes scheduled at this time.
It has bipartisan support and addresses a major public nuisance but it faces opposition from business groups and must pass through a crowded legislative calendar.
Small business owners benefit as consumers from stronger robocall protections, but they could also face increased legal risk if they use any automated dialing for outreach. The expanded definition of autodialers and the single-call lawsuit trigger mean that businesses making marketing calls need to be more careful about compliance or face $500-per-call penalties with less room to negotiate lower fines.
Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
Introduced in House
The bill was officially filed and given a number. It now enters the legislative queue.
No votes have been recorded for this legislation yet.
A Telephone Consumer Protection Act bill has been given new life. Cited as the 'Protecting American Consumers from Robocalls Act,' the regulation seeks to expand the private right of action for calls made in violation of the TCPA and update the definition of automated dialing systems.
The Senate version of the bill would remove the term 'residential' from the DNC rule and expand the ATDS definition—two critical changes that will make it much easier to sue businesses in TCPA suits. It also sets mandatory $500 per violation damages, removing the 'up to' limitation.
The Protecting American Consumers from Robocalls Act seeks to improve consumer protection by broadening the scope of Do Not Call regulations and updating the definition of automated dialing systems to reflect modern technology usage, potentially impacting major telecom providers.
Document Type
Congressional Bill
Official Title
Protecting American Consumers from Robocalls Act
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