The Attorney General of Connecticut is working with a bipartisan coalition of state legislators to update the state’s anti-robocall law, saying the law needs to be modernized to stay in line with communication trends and new technology.
The proposed legislation would expand the definition of robocall to include text messages, set limits on when telemarketers can contact residents, bolster the disclosures required, and allow the state to take enforcement action against calls received by residents of Connecticut regardless of where the call originated.
Copy of written testimony provided by the AG’s office in support of the bill can be accessed by clicking here.
Some provisions of the robocall statute have not been updated since the law went into effect 25 years ago, according to the state Attorney General, William Tong. Other sections were last updated nearly a decade ago.
Among the provisions to be included in the new legislation are:
- Expands the statute to cover text messages
- Bans “gateway” Voiceover Internet Protocol (VoIP) providers from facilitating overseas scammers’ access to the U.S. telecom networks
- Allows for enforcement action against calls received by Connecticut area codes regardless of where the calls originate
- Bars telemarketers from contacting Connecticut residents before 9 a.m. and after 8 p.m.
- Strengthens disclosures that telemarketers must make
- Clarifies protections provided by the Do Not Call List
“Our laws have failed to keep pace with the tactics and technology these scammers use,” Attorney General Tong said in a statement
