The House of Representatives has recently approved the new anti-robocalling rules. Now Congress has been pressing on telecoms and the Federal Communications Commission due to the onslaught of harmful calls over the past few years.
The Energy and Commerce Committee approved the Stopping Bad Robocalls Act unanimously last week and sent it to the floor, preparing it for today’s 429-3 vote.
If it becomes law, the bill would make it easier for the government to impose tougher penalties on illegal robocallers and fraudsters and demand that carriers deploy call authentication tech like SHAKEN/STIR at a faster pace.
In a statement supporting the bill Rep. Frank Pallone (D-NJ) said: “The rising tide of unlawful, unwanted robocalls started as a nuisance but now threatens the way consumers view and use their telephones. These calls are undermining our entire phone system, and that’s something we all need to take very, very seriously.”
Now the bill would also require the FCC to update its definition of robocall, which could lead to more businesses obtaining consent from customers before using robocalls to content them.
Some carriers has also approve of the House’s anti-robocalling measure with Robert Fisher, Verizon’s senior vice president of federal legislative affairs, said “Enough is enough – it’s time for Americans to hang up on abusive robocallers once and for all.”
“We commend this legislation and look forward to working with Congress to make abusive robocalls history,” he added.
