FCC Should Proceed With Caution on Exceptions to Robocall Rules, FTC Says
The FCC should move with care as it considers rules for federal debt collection that are at odds with the protections consumers receive under the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA), said a filing by the staff of the FTC Consumer…
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Protection Bureau. The FTC said in a news release Thursday its commissioners approved the filing. “FTC staff recommends that the FCC proceed with caution, and only incrementally, with any expansion of permissible robocalling,” the filing in docket 02-278 said. “We also recommend that the FCC attempt to harmonize its rules as much as possible with existing laws governing debt collection and telemarketing.” The FTC staff said the FCC should allow such calls: “(1) only to those regarding debts in ‘default,’ (2) only to persons who actually owe the debts, (3) only to collect government debt and no other type of debt, and (4) only for collection purposes.” The FTC comment was on a May rulemaking on rules that would provide an exception to the TCPA for companies hired by the federal government to collect funds that are owed the government (see 1605090037).