FCC to Tackle Robocalls, Reassigned Numbers at July Meeting

06/27/17 – Law360 reports that the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) plans to address consumer protection issues, including unlawful robocalls, at its next open meeting on July 13.

According to Law360, the FCC’s meeting agenda includes several proposals to help tackle consumer protection issues. The commission will consider a notice of inquiry that seeks comment on methods to authenticate telephone calls to further secure telephone networks against illegal robocallers and another one that aims to explore methods by which reassigned telephone number data could be made available to businesses to avoid making unwanted calls to consumers.

Another proposal will address reassigned numbers, an issue that frequently arises in class actions brought by private plaintiffs under the Telephone Consumer Protection Act.

The commission will also consider a proposed rule that would: ban misrepresentations on sales calls that are used to gather verbal responses and subsequently used to “slam” consumers; make it harder for fraudsters to “cram” consumers by putting unauthorized charges on their phone bills; and advance new, strong rural call completion requirements for certain telecommunications carriers while reducing the burden of existing regulations, such as by eliminating some paperwork carriers are required to file with the commission.

Law360 (sub. req.); FCC July Open Meeting Agenda.