Lawmakers Looking to Revise Robocall Laws for Cell Phones
Sep 29, 2011, 3:53 PM by Eric M. Zeman
Representative Lee Terry from Nebraska has introduced a bill that would allow companies to use computers or other automated tools to make phone calls to mobile phones. The current law, which was set in 1991, prevents auto-dialing and robocalls to cellular devices. At the time, the law was put in place to protect consumers from the high per-minute cost of mobile calls. Now, lawmakers believe the reasoning behind the law is moot and prevents businesses from contacting their customers regarding important notices and information. Specifically, H.R. 3035 — also called the Mobile Informational Call Act of 2011 — looks to amend the Communications Act of 1934 to permit informational calls to mobile telephone numbers, and for other purposes. Consumers would still be protected from unsolicited marketing calls to their mobile phone numbers. In a letter sent by a number of financial institutions to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, he explained, "Businesses increasingly rely on advanced communications technologies to convey timely and important information to consumers. These calls notify consumers about threats such as data breaches and fraud alerts, provide timely notice of flight and service appointment cancellations and drug recalls, and protect consumers against the adverse consequences of failure to make timely payments on an account. Unfortunately, the TCPA restricts informational calls that utilize assistive technologies to mobile devices even though the law permits such calls to be made to wireline phones. As a result, the approximately 40% of American consumers who identify their mobile device as their primary or exclusive means of communication do not receive many of these calls. This restriction imposes unwarranted costs and inconveniences on consumers, businesses, and the economy as a whole." The bill needs to be approved by congress and the president before the law can be changed.
OpenCongress »
The Consumerist »
iPhone 14 Plus Offers a Big Screen For Less
Apple Watch Goes Ultra
Comments
Complete Crap
You WANT to get those calls? Get a magic-Jack for $50.00 a year and leave it plugged in. For everybody else, this is complete horse crap, there is no other way to put it.
If you exclusively have a Cellular device, you are asking for p...
(continues)
Some of us still pay for minutes
1) The Do Not Call Registry is not going away, so that protection against solicitors is still in place.
2) The current law FORBIDS my bank to call me on my cell phone to report a breach of data, despite the f...
(continues)
today's ROBO voice call
ffffftttt!!! I've been pressing 2 for the past 5 years. I have no relationship with "Account Services". I don't have a mortgage.
In a perfect world I could press a button on my phone that would (1) block this caller, (2) reverse the charge on this call, and (3) report the number as violating my DO-NOT-CALL directive.
Rep. Lee Terry: Wrong about everything
In addition to his love of robot calls...
He likes hydrogen for an alternative fuel, which is the only option among all possibilities to be completely unworkable.
He likes gambling prohibition, which is impractical and fascist.
He votes against stem cell research, so he is also just plain stupid.
I'll agree if CALLER PAYS for Voice or SMS
I propose a fundamental change to the way the cellphone Robocall gateways work - the users of these gateways must register with the cellular companies. The cellular companies are allowed to require a fee for the user of their gateways. Any calls, voice messages, and text messages received via this gateway will be FREE to the customer.
I bet the number of "refinance my mortgage" text messages will drop to zero if the sender has to pay for them.
no
Robo-Call
Mr. Terry obviously is well ensconced up someones well funded orifice.
Bull Hockey!
What a waste.
The current law, which was set in 1991, prevents auto-dialing and robocalls to cellular devices. At the time, the law was put in place to protect consumers from the high per-minute cost of mobile calls. Now, lawmakers believe the reasoning behind the law is moot and prevents businesses from contacting their customers regarding important notices and information. Specifically, H.R. 3035 -- also called the Mobile Informational Call Act of 2011 -- looks to amend the Communications Act of 1934 to permit informational calls to mobile telephone numbers, and for other purposes. Consumers would still be protected from unsolicited marketing calls to their mobile phone numbers..
These two points seem to counter each ...
(continues)
