Letter to Tom Wheeler, Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission - Stopping Intrusive Telemarketing Calls to Families

Letter

Dear Chairman Wheeler:

When Congress passed the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) of 1991, the goal was clear: whether at home or on their mobile phones, consumers should not be subject to intrusive and unsolicited calls from telemarketers.

More than 20 years after the enactment of the TCPA, it is clear that consumers have benefited from the law's protections. In 1991, Congress was primarily concerned with stopping phone calls while families were eating meals together, parents were helping children with homework, or workers were arriving home after work. 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. In response to industry requests, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is seeking comment on proposed rules that would provide exemptions and questionable safe harbors for businesses that utilize auto-dialers to call consumers' mobile devices. 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 the TCPA have provided for more than two decades. These protections should continue for years to come. The FCC should reject calls to weaken or undermine this effective law.

Thank you for your attention to this issue.

Sincerely,

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