The Wall Street Journal delves into the issue that keeps regulators, members of Congress and the industry working to find a solution for consumers and businesses.
8/26/2019 14:30
As everyone in the industry is aware, there’s a huge difference between unwanted and illegal robocalls. Not to mention, there are layers upon layers of issues surrounding why robocalls placed by bad actors are increasingly difficult to stop, according to Spencer Macnaughton, a video journalist with The Wall Street Journal who is featured a new video framing the issue.
Macnaughton says according to YouMail, more than 60 percent of “robocalls” placed in 2018 were legitimate, including calls placed by debt collectors contacting consumers under agreed upon contracts. The video is accompanied by WSJ reporter Ryan Tracy’s article titled, “Large Telecoms, State Enforcers Make Pact to Combat Robocalls,” which describes the recent agreement between state attorneys general and large carriers to stop illegal robocalls. A subscription may be required to view the article.
Several of the largest telephone service providers are partnering with U.S. attorneys general to adopt principles to stop illegal robocalls—including call blocking and labeling—adding to the slate of recent government and regulatory efforts to mitigate these illegal calls, ACA International previously reported.
ACA International continues to support actions to mitigate illegal robocalls while advocating for regulations and use of technology that do not hinder communication between consumers and legitimate callers, including through recent comments to the FCC on the third Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on Advanced Methods to Target and Eliminate Unlawful Robocalls.
Congress is slated to return to Capitol Hill next week following the Labor Day holiday. Meanwhile, ACA intends to continue its advocacy efforts to help find a balance between ending illegal robocalls while protecting communications between consumers and legitimate callers using modern technologies.
Related Content from ACA International:
Phone Companies Adopt State AG Principles on Call Blocking and Labeling