Antitrust Law Daily Wrap Up, PRIVACY NEWS: Senate Dems urge FCC to reject efforts to weaken TCPA, (Jan 30, 2015)

By Brian Hammond,TRDaily

A group of 13 Senate Democrats has written to FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler, urging him to reject "any attempts to weaken or undermine" the Telephone Consumer Protection Act, such as by allowing autodialers to call consumers' mobile phones.

In a letter sent to Chairman Wheeler on January 28, the senators said, "By banning auto dialing and pre-recorded calls to land lines and mobile phones, with certain exceptions, and establishing the National Do Not Call Registry, the law created a zone of privacy that remains hugely popular with consumers to this day.

"Unfortunately, today there are efforts to weaken this important law," the senators wrote. The FCC has asked for comments on proposals to provide exemptions and "questionable safe harbors for businesses that utilize autodialers to call consumers' mobile devices," the letter stated. "We have deep concerns about these proposed changes that undermine the intent and spirit of the TCPA.”

"American consumers have enjoyed the convenience and privacy that the protections in the TCPA have provided for more than two decades," according to the senators. "These protections should continue for years to come. The FCC should reject calls to weaken or undermine this effective law."

The letter was signed by Sen. Edward Jr. Markey (D., Mass.), who led the effort, as well as by Sens. Charles Schumer (D., N.Y.), Ron Wyden (D., Ore.), Claire McCaskill (D., Mo.), Tammy Baldwin (D., Wis.), Barbara Boxer (D., Calif.), Richard Blumenthal (D., Conn.), Elizabeth Warren (D., Mass.), Bernie Sanders (I., Vt.), Kristen Gillibrand (D., N.Y.), Jeff Merkley (D., Ore.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D., R.I.), and Al Franken (D., Minn.).

News: Privacy