New FCC Plan to Block Robocalls

Over the last few years, there’s been a rapid increase in the number of robocalls consumers are being hit with. CNET reports there were 26.3 billion robocalls placed in the U.S. in 2018.

For many Americans, these calls have become a weekly or even daily nuisance. Now, the Federal Communications Commission has a plan to block robocalls: giving cell phone companies the power to aggressively block robocalls on behalf of consumers. In early June, the FCC voted unanimously for the new proposal to aggressively block robocalls that consumers had not opted into.

The new FCC plan comes after increased pressure to do something about the frustrating and growing practice of illegal robocalling. Frustration over robocalls is the number one complaint that the FCC receives from consumers—in fact, hundreds of thousands of grievances are filed with the agency each and every year.

“This FCC will stand with American consumers, not with those who are badgering them with these unwanted robocalls,” said FCC Chariman Ajit Pai, according to CNET.

“When consumers complain to us, they don’t distinguish between illegal calls, scam calls, telemarketing calls and spoofed calls,” Pai wrote in a USA Today op-ed earlier this month. “They simply lump them together under one category: unwanted.”

Under this proposal, the FCC will allow wireless carriers to block robocalls for their customers by default. Another part of the proposal is for companies to allow consumers to block calls from unknown numbers by themselves. These new changes will be optional for customers—if they do not wish to engage in these new blocking services, then they don’t have to take part.

There are some potential downsides to opting in to having your phone company block robocalls: important calls from your doctor or drugstore, or callbacks from support centers, may be caught in the crossfire and blocked as well.

Basics of the TCPA

The new measure would add to the protections that already exist under the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) of 1991. The TCPA was enacted to protect consumers against unwanted solicitation using technology.

In the more than 25 years since the TCPA was first introduced, technology has shifted drastically—and the TCPA has shifted with it, now including technologies like robocalls, unsolicited text messages, opt-out options, and more.

Under the TCPA, consumers can be awarded monetary compensation per violation of between $500 and $1,500, depending on if the violation was made negligently or willfully.

Filing a TCPA Lawsuit

While this new FCC plan to block robocalls can help going forward, it can’t make up for robocalls you’ve already been hit with. If you been hit with unwanted robocalls, you may be able to file a lawsuit and pursue compensation. Reporting violations of the TCPA can also help hold companies responsible for their actions.

Keep records of unwanted messages or robocalls that you believe violate the TCPA as evidence to ensure that your lawsuit is as effective as possible.

Companies included in our lawsuit investigation include Ally Financial, Bank of America, Chase, Dish Network, GoodYear, Mattress Firm, Wells Fargo, Yelp, and many more.

Join a Free TCPA Class Action Lawsuit Investigation

If you were contacted on your cell phone by a company via an unsolicited text message (text spam) or prerecorded voice message (robocall), you may be eligible for compensation under the Telephone Consumer Protection Act.

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This article is not legal advice. It is presented
for informational purposes only.