Robocalls and Telemarketing Archive

Press

3/27/19 Washington Post “Why are we getting so many robocalls ?” quotes NCLC Senior Counsel Margot Saunders
3/16/19 CNBC “Robocalls about your bills can pour in every day, all day” quotes NCLC Senior Counsel Margot Saunders
10/31/18 Mercury News “Robocalls gone wild end up costing California debt collector $9 million“
10/15/18 MarketWatch “Robocall debt collectors see new opportunity under Trump’s FCC” quotes NCLC Senior Counsel Margot Saunders
8/6/18 CNBC “Don’t pick up (or maybe you should): That annoying robocall could be about your student loans” quotes NCLC Senior Counsel Margot Saunders
7/17/18 Washington Post “Robo-calls are getting worse. And some big businesses soon could start calling you even more.” quotes NCLC Senior Counsel Margot Saunders
7/5/18 Detroit Free Press “Could a tsunami of robocalls be headed to our cell phones?” quotes NCLC Senior Counsel Margot Saunders
6/12/18 Forbes “There Were 4.1 Billion Robocalls Dialed in the U.S. Last Month” quotes NCLC deputy director Carolyn Carter
5/24/18 BYU Radio “Robocalls on the Rise” NCLC Senior Counsel Margot Saunders joins Julie Rose for her “Top of Mind” broadcast to discuss the rising toll robocalls take on consumer privacy and what can be done to stop them.
5/18/18 Vice: Motherboard “Our Robocall Hell Is a Result of Inconsistent Enforcement and Carrier Apathy” quotes NCLC Senior Counsel Margot Saunders discusses the failure of telephone service providers and regulators to do enough to stop robocalls.
5/16/18 Slate “There Are Two Big Reasons Robocalls Are Getting Worse” quotes NCLC Senior Counsel Margot Saunders and explains the FCC’s mistake in only addressing scam robocalls “while largely ignoring the aggressive robocalling behavior of legitimate businesses.”
1/17/18 NBC News “It’s not just you–Americans received 30 billion robocalls last year” quotes NCLC Senior Counsel Margot Saunders on the volume of robocalls and company’s efforts to amend the rules to make even more robocalls.
11/20/17 WIRED “The Robocall Nightmare Is Only Getting Worse–But Help Is Here” quotes NCLC Senior Counsel Margot Saunders on the prevalence of unwanted robocalls from banks and debt collectors while the FCC remains focused on scam calls.
6/13/17 Boston Globe Editorial “FCC should reject new robocall initiative” quotes NCLC Senior Counsel Margot Saunders on robocalls and the First Amendment.
6/6/17 Morning Consult op-ed “Agencies should ensure enforcement of unwanted robocalls, texts” by NCLC Senior Counsel Margot Saunders and Randall A. Snyder argues for greater consumer protections against telemarketers.
6/3/17 New York Times “Telemarketers fight to get in with no ring” by Tara Siegel Bernard quotes NCLC Senior Counsel Margot Saunders on the dangers of ringless voicemail. This story also ran in the Boston Globe and the Tampa Bay Times.
6/1/17 CBS Evening News (National) 2:01 runtime “Companies want robocalls to go straight to your voicemail” in which Anna Werner interviews NCLC Senior Counsel Margot Saunders.
2/8/17 KOMO Radio (Seattle) (3:20 runtime) NCLC attorney Margot Saunders discusses concerns that the FCC might loosen regulations that would allow robocalls by student loan servicers and debt collectors to cellphones without consent with consumer reporter Herb Weisbaum.

Policy Briefs, Reports & Press Releases

2020

Press release: U.S. Supreme Court to Hear Case on December 8 that Could Open the Floodgates to More Invasive Robocalls, Dec. 7, 2020
Issue brief: Robocall Protections: Will the Supreme Court Shield Americans from Unwanted Robocalls?, December 2020
Policy Brief: How the U.S. Supreme Court Can Shield Americans From Unwanted Robocalls, Dec. 2020
Press Release: Telecom Carrier and Consumer Groups Stress Critical Need to Maintain Landmark Consumer Privacy Law to Protect Integrity of Communications System and Curb Robocalls in U.S. Supreme Court Case, March 3, 2020

2019

Press release: Bipartisan TRACED Act Signed Into Law, Latest Tool in Fight Against the Robocall Epidemic, December 30, 2019
Press release: Are Robot Calls Robocalls? October 21, 2019
Issue brief: Digital Divide: Millions of Americans Have Limited or No Meaningful Access to the Internet, August 2019
Press release: Consumer Groups Praise Overwhelming House Passage of Strong Anti-Robocalls Bill, June 24, 2019
Press Release: Bipartisan House Bill Moves Forward in the Fight to Stop Unwanted Robocalls, July 17, 2019
Press Release: Bipartisan House Bill is a Significant Step Forward in the Fight to Stop Unwanted Robocalls, June 20, 2019
Press Statement: FCC Approves Phone Companies Proactively Blocking Robocalls, June 6, 2019
Press Release: Legislation to Shut Down Unwanted Robocalls Reintroduced, Feb. 4, 2019
Press release: Consumer Groups Urge Action on Bipartisan Legislation to Stop Misleading “Spoofed” Robocalls, Jan. 17, 2019

2018

Press Release: FCC Issues Proposed Order to Reduce Wrong Number Robocalls, Nov. 21, 2018
Press Release: Consumer Groups Welcome Bipartisan Legislation to Stop Misleading “Spoofed” Robocalls, Nov. 16, 2018
Press Release: Bipartisan Robocall Issue Draws Contrasting Response in U.S. Senate, Aug. 2, 2018
Press release: Banks, Mortgage Servicers, Student Lenders, and Auto Dealers Push FCC to Weaken Consumer Protections from Unwanted Robocalls, June 26, 2018
Press release: As Robocall Volume Breaks Records, FCC Could Open the Floodgates to Even More Robocalls, June 7, 2018
Memo: Amicus Brief Filed in the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals on Behalf of NCLC and NACA in Marks v. Crunch San Diego, LLC, Arguing that the FCC’s Pre-2015 Orders Defining a Calling System as a Robodialer Remain in Effect, May 21, 2018
Press release: NCLC Attorney Margot Saunders Testifies at U.S. Senate Hearing on Stopping Abusive Robocalls; Urges FCC to Strengthen Key Federal Privacy Law, April 18, 2018
Memo: The Effect of ACA International: What Does it Vacate, What Does it Undermine, What Rules Remain?, April 2, 2018 PDF || MS Word
Press release: D.C. Court Decision: Ball is Now in FCC Chairman Pai’s Court to Protect Consumers from Robocalls, March 16, 2018
Press release: Advocates to FCC: Do More, Much More to Block Unwanted Robocalls, Feb. 23, 2018
Press release: Robocall Problem Even Worse than FTC Data Shows, Jan. 4, 2018

2017

Press Release: Banking Lobbyists Back FCC Petition to Shield Companies from Penalties for Text Messaging Consumers, Dec. 19, 2017
Press Release: Consumer Groups Oppose Credit Unions’ Attempts to Robocall, Text Message Customers Without Their Consent, Nov. 7, 2017
Press Release: FCC Must Protect Consumers from Unwanted Telemarketing and Debt Collection Voicemails, May 18, 2017
Press Release: FCC Must Resist Industry Pressure to Unleash Incessant Robocalls to Student Loan Borrowers and Their Relatives and Neighbors, Feb. 1, 2017

2016

Policy Briefs: Amicus Brief to DC Circuit Court by NCLC on behalf of the low-income clients and other consumer groups to defend FCC 2015 Omnibus Order, Jan. 2016
Press Release: A win for consumers! FCC limits robocalls for collectors of federal student loan debt, August 11, 2016
Press Release: FCC proposes rules to protect student loan borrowers and other consumers from collectors of federal debt, May 10, 2016

2015

Press Release: Congress Set to Allow Robocalls to Cellphones, Oct. 27, 2015
Press Release: FCC Protects Consumers from Unsolicited Robocalls and Texts to Cell Phones and Moves to Modernize Lifeline Program, June 18, 2015
Press Release: FCC Announces Proposed Ruling Protecting Consumers from Unwanted Robocalls and Texts to Cell Phones, May 28, 2015
Sign the petition to tell the FCC: NO robocalls to my cell phone
Press Release: 60,000 consumers tell the FCC: No robocalls to my cellphone, Feb. 19, 2015
Press Release FCC Poised to Open the Floodgates for Robocalls to Cell Phones, Jan. 2015

Comments and Testimony

2019

Consumer Groups Comments Urging the FCC to adopt Advanced Methods to Target and Eliminate Unlawful Robocalls (CG Docket No. 17-59) and Call Authentication Trust Anchor (WC Docket No. 17-97), July 24, 2019
Group comments to the FCC opposing the petition filed by the P2P Alliance seeking an exemption from the TCPA, July 11, 2019.
Testimony of NCLC Attorney Margot Saunders before the U.S. House on Legislating to Stop the Onslaught of Annoying Robocalls, April 30, 2019; Press Release
Testimony before the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation regarding Illegal Robocalls: Calling All To Stop The Scourge, April 11, 2019; Press Release
Group comments opposing NorthStar Alarm Services, LLC’s Petition to the FCC for Expedited Declaratory Ruling under the TCPA, March 15, 2019
Group comments to the FCC Opposing the Petition for Declaratory Ruling Filed by SGS North America re: Telemarketing Robocalls, Jan. 24, 2019

2018

NCLC Comments to the FCC on the 9th Circuit Marks Decision, Oct. 17, 2018; Group ex-parte supplemental comments, Nov. 13, 2018
Group comments to the FCC re: Rules and Regulations Implementing the Telephone Consumer Protection Act and Interpretations in Light of the D.C. Circuit‘s ACA International Decision (CG Docket No. 02-278 and CG Docket No. 18-152), June 13, 2018 and Reply comments; Ex Parte Comments to the FCC, relating to the use of reasonable reliance as a defense to wrong number calls, Jan. 28, 2019
Consumer groups comments to the FCC in support of the FCC’s consideration of the creation of a reassigned number database, May 29, 2018
Testimony before the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation regarding the Escalating Problem of Unwanted Robocalls and What To Do About It, April 18, 2018
Consumer groups comments to the FCC re: Advanced Methods to to Target and Eliminate Unlawful Robocalls, Feb. 22, 2018
Consumer group comments to the FCC re: Advanced Methods to Target and Eliminate Unlawful Robocalls, Jan. 23, 2018

2017

Group comments to FCC re: Petition for Declaratory Ruling by the FHFA on emergency communications by mortgage servicers to borrowers after a declared disaster, Dec. 4, 2017
Comments of NCLC and other consumer groups to the FCC opposing a request for an exemption from liability by an automated texter, Outcome Health, Nov. 27, 2017.
Group comments to the FCC opposing the Credit Union National Association petition for exemptions to the TCPA to make robocalls and text messages, Nov. 6, 2017
Group comments to FCC on the Proposal to Develop a Reassigned Number Database, Aug. 28, 2017; Group Reply Comments, Sept. 26, 2017
Group comments to FCC on the proposed rules regarding Advanced Methods for Blocking Robocalls, June 30, 2017
Group comments to FCC opposing Exemptions for Ringless Voice Mail (RVM), May 18, 2017
Group comments to the FCC re: Opposition to Petition for Reconsideration, Feb. 1, 2017

2016

NCLC comments to the FCC re: procedures relating to retroactive waivers of liability for telemarketing callers and fax senders, Dec. 8, 2016
Group comments to the FCC requesting additional, clarifying language to healthcare companies petition to exclude telemarketing robocalls without consent, October 18, 2016
NCLC’s Comments Opposing Professional Services Council Petition for Reconsideration of Broadnet Ruling, Sept. 9, 2016
Group comments to FCC opposing Mortgage Bankers Association request for exemption to allow robocalls without consent, Aug. 26, 2016
Petition for Reconsideration of the Federal Communications Commission’s Declaratory Ruling and Request for a Stay re: Broadnet Teleservices, et al, July 26, 2016 || Press Release || Reply comments, Aug. 16, 2016 and Final comments of NCLC and 50 legal aid and public interest groups supporting reconsideration of FCC ruling and request for a stay re: Broadnet Teleservices et al , Aug. 29, 2016 || Reply comments, Sept. 15, 2016
Comments to the FCC from NCLC and 24 national and state organizations supporting the FCC’s proposed rule to stop unwanted robocalls for federal debt and urging even greater protections, June 6, 2016 and Reply comments, June 21, 2016
Testimony before the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation regarding the importance of the Telephone Consumer Protection Act to Safeguard Consumers, May 18, 2016
Group ex parte comments to the FCC opposing Hubbard Broadcasting’s petition for robocall exemptions, Mar. 7, 2016

2015

Group comments to the FCC on: Blackboard, Edison Electric Institute, and American Gas Asso. petitions regarding the scope of consent to send autodialed calls and texts to cell phones, Aug. 7, 2015
Comments to the FCC in response to the Commission’s request for comments on the Petition for a Declaratory Ruling and/or Clarification brought by Citizens Bank, March 16, 2015
NCLC and NACA comments to the FCC re: ACA International’s Reply Comments re: for Consumer Bankers Association petition re: exemption to the Telecommunications Consumer Protection Act, Jan. 2015

2014

Group comments to the FCC re: opposing the American Bankers Association exemption to the Telephone Consumer Protection Act to allow robocalls to cell phones, Dec. 2014
Group comments to the FCC re: preserving the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) protections for cell phones, Nov. 2014.
Comments to the Federal Trade Commission regarding the Telemarketing Sales Rule Regulatory Review, Nov. 2014
Comments to the Federal Communications Commission re: Rules and Regulations Implementing the Telephone Consumer Protection Act of 1991, Sept. 26, 2014
Comments to the FCC opposing change to the Telephone Consumer Protection Act to allow marketing robo-calls to cell phones, Aug. 2014
Joint comments in response to the FCC’s request for comments on the Petition for Expedited Declaratory Ruling and/or Expedited Rulemaking filed by United Healthcare Services, Inc., March 2014

Letters
2019

Joint Letter to the US House on the “Stopping Bad Robocalls Act,” July 23, 2019
Ex Parte to supplement the comments filed with the FCC In re Rules and Regulations Implementing the Telephone Consumer Protection Act and Interpretations in Light of the ACA International Decision, Jan. 28, 2019

2018

Ex Parte regarding meeting between 5 consumer groups and Chairman Pai’s staff regarding pending interpretations of critical terms under the TCPA, Sept. 19, 2018

2017

Group letter urging FCC to Initiate Enforcement Action Against Navient for Violations of the TCPA, June 14, 2017 Exhibit 1 and Exhibit 2

2016

Group letter to U.S. Senate supporting S 3026 ROBOCOP Act to reduce robocall abuses and opposing S 2644 FCC Reauthorization Act to weaken TCPA, Nov. 15, 2016
Letter to the U.S. House Subcommittee on Communications and Technology supporting HR 4932 (Robocop Act), Sept. 22, 2016
Group Letter to the FCC opposing rule allowing federal government contractors to make robocalls to cellphones, July 12, 2016
Essential Principles of Consumer Protection that the FCC Should Adopt for Calls to Collect Government Debt, March 23, 2016
Group letter urging U.S. House of Representatives to support HR 4682 Help Americans Never Get Unwanted Phone call (HANGUP Act), March 11, 2016

2015

Group letter urging U.S. Senators to support the Help Americans Never Get Unwanted Phone calls (HANGUP) bill, Nov. 2, 2015
Consumer letter to the FCC re: robocalls to cell phones, June 8, 2015
Ex parte letter to the FCC re ongoing issues related to the Telephone Consumer Protection Act, April 2015
Letter to the FCC regarding a health care industry’s request to eviscerate the TCPA protections against robocalls to cell phones, Feb. 23, 2015
Response to Ex Parte Presentation of the National Council of Higher Education Resources, Jan 2015
Ex parte letter to the FCC re ongoing attempts by industry to weaken the consumer protections of the Telephone Consumer Protection Act, Jan. 2015

2014

Class Actions and the Telephone Consumer Protection Act, Who Benefits? Seven Myths and Facts, Aug 2014
Group letter to FCC letter regarding Notice of Ex Parte presentation, May 2014

Litigation

2019

Amicus brief in Salcedo v. Hanna in support of plaintiff-appellee’s petition for rehearing and rehearing en banc, Sept. 25, 2019
Amicus brief in Evans v. Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit) arguing that the definition of automated telephone dialing systems (ATDS) under the TCPA should include devices that are able to store numbers and redial them automatically, April 1, 2019
Amicus brief in Glasser v. Hilton Grand Vacations Company, LLC. (Federal District Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit) arguing that a robocalling telemarketer should not be permitted to evade the consumer protections of the TCPA by inserting a useless dialing agent in the middle of the process, January 24, 2019

2018

Amicus brief in Marks v. Crunch San Diego arguing the Federal Communication Commission’s (FCC) pre-2015 orders are still in effect and are binding on Courts, May 21, 2018

2016

Amicus brief in ACA International, et al. v. Federal Communications Commission, et al, (United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit) in support of affirmance of the Federal Communications Commission 2015 Omnibus Ruling and Order, January 22, 2016

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