The sweep includes lead generators and VoIP service providers, which are also the subject of ongoing rulemaking from the FCC.
07/19/2023 11:20 A.M.
2 minute read
The Federal Trade Commission, in partnership with more than 100 federal and state law enforcement agencies, announced “Operation Stop Scam Calls” on Tuesday.
The joint agency effort targets telemarketers, lead generators and Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) service providers “responsible for making or facilitating billions of illegal telemarketing calls,” according to a news release from the FTC.
Operation Stop Scam Calls includes “five new cases from the FTC against companies and individuals responsible for distributing or assisting the distribution of illegal telemarketing calls to consumers nationwide,” according to a news release.
The actions are focused on violations of the Telemarketing Sales Rule through third-party lead generation for robocalls.
“The FTC and its partners are committed to stopping illegal calls by targeting anyone in the telemarketing ecosystem that assists and facilitates these calls, including VoIP service providers,” according to the news release.
The FTC has 167 cases on illegal robocalls and Do Not Call violations, including from lead generators and VoIP service providers, it reports.
Other initiatives by federal and state agencies have led to more than 180 enforcement actions and other initiatives as part of Operation Stop Scam Calls.
Additional agencies that are part of the enforcement action include the Department of Justice, which has announced several civil and criminal actions related to this initiative, as well as the Federal Communications Commission, Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General, and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.
FCC Rulemaking
Meanwhile, the FCC continues its rulemaking efforts on illegal robocall mitigation and to expand requirements for voice service providers to implement the STIR/SHAKEN call authentication framework.
This includes:
- Comments on a new proposed rule that would extend consumers’ rights to revoke consent they previously gave to receive robocalls and robotexts are due July 21. The proposed rule also seeks to clarify callers’ obligations to honor consumers’ requests. Read more here.
- Comments on a proposed rule that would implement call blocking notification requirements for voice service providers are due Aug. 9. Of note for members and the accounts receivable management industry, the FCC is expanding proposed requirements for voice service providers to block illegal robocalls, while also making sure legitimate calls get through. Read more here.
- Final rules on illegal robocall mitigation and to expand requirements for voice service providers to implement the STIR/SHAKEN call authentication framework take effect Aug. 21. Compliance is required by Dec. 31, 2023. Read more here.
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