Hawaii House Bill HR49

Hawaii 2022 Regular Session

• Introduced: 3/9/22
• Refer: 3/14/22

Caption

Urging The United States Congress To Enact Legislation To Address The Rise In Illegal Text Messages.

Impact

If adopted, HR49 aims to bring attention to the pressing need for federal legislation addressing illegal text messages. It strongly encourages Congress to consult with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to develop regulations that could enhance the ability of phone companies to block unsolicited messages. Such legislation would not only aim to protect consumers from scams but would also potentially create a legal framework for managing the accountability of telecommunications providers regarding how they handle unwarranted communication.

Summary

House Resolution 49 (HR49) urges the United States Congress to take action against the rise of illegal text messages that have become a method for criminals to scam consumers. The resolution highlights the alarming statistics showing an increase in spam text messages received by consumers, with a reported 7.65 million messages received in just one month. It emphasizes the ineffectiveness of current spam filtering apps and notes that the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) received over 334,000 complaints regarding scam text messages in the prior year, an increase that indicates a growing problem.

Contention

While the resolution calls for legislative action at the federal level to curb illegal text messages and scams, it may face some opposition from telecommunications companies that could argue against the implications of enforced regulations on their operations. The emphasis on legislative action also includes concerns regarding privacy and the extent to which companies can monitor communications while ensuring that consumer rights are fully respected. There may be discussions about the balance between consumer protection and the operational capabilities of businesses involved in telecommunications.