The Federal Communications Commission yesterday issued two orders, one of which restricts the number of non-telemarketing calls that can be made by non-commercial, commercial, and tax-exempt nonprofit organizations under the Pallone-Thune Telephone Robocall Abuse Criminal Enforcement and Deterrence (TRACED) Act. The other order bestows more power on voice service providers to make sure their networks are not being used to transmit illegal robocalls.
Under the first order, the number of exempted calls to any residential phone from any caller will be limited to three within any consecutive 30-day period. Previously, there was no limit on the number of non-telemarketing calls that could be made to a residence. Consumers must now also be given the right to opt out of receiving such calls, according to the FCC.
Noting that implementing these changes “may present some burdens” to callers, the FCC established a six-month waiting period before the order goes into effect.
“Americans are sick and tired of unwanted and illegal robocalls, and today’s separate actions are like a one-two punch to ward them off,” said FCC Chairman Ajit Pai, in a statement. “Today, we are putting much needed limitations on robocalls to our homes, and taking additional steps regarding call blocking that will yield significant improvements for consumers.”
