On February 15, 2012, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) approved changes to its telemarketing rules, further protecting consumers from unwanted autodialed or prerecorded calls or texts, what are referred to as “Robocalls.” Robocalls invade consumers’ privacy and in the case of calls to cell phone numbers, use up valuable minutes. The FCC Order helps curtail these intrusions by empowering consumers with increased rights under the FCC’s telemarketing rules. Some of the changes include:
(1) requiring prior express written consent for all autodialed or prerecorded telemarketing calls to cell phone numbers and residential lines;
(2) eliminating the established business relationship exemption for such calls to residential lines while maintaining flexibility in the form of consent needed for purely informational calls; and
(3) allowing consumers to opt out of future Robocalls during a Robocall.
In 2011, unwanted telemarketing calls and texts are one of the top 3 consumer complaints made with the FCC.
The FCC Order can be found here.