DO NOT Call Act of 2023 Deter Obnoxious, Nefarious, and Outrageous Telephone Calls Act of 2023
Impact
The modifications introduced in HB800 are designed to enhance consumer protection by disincentivizing the proliferation of unsolicited calls. These changes would affect state and federal laws related to telemarketing practices, aiming to create a more robust framework that combats the nuisance posed by telemarketers. Under the revised penalties, offenders would be deterred from initiating unsolicited calls, ensuring a more consumer-friendly environment that prioritizes citizen privacy and peace.
Summary
House Bill 800, also known as the 'DO NOT Call Act of 2023', aims to amend the penalties associated with violations of the Telephone Consumer Protection Act of 1991. The primary objective of this legislation is to impose stricter penalties on perpetrators of telemarketing violations, particularly those who engage in spam calls and other intrusive communication methods. The bill proposes that individuals found guilty of willfully violating the Act could face imprisonment of up to one year, with harsher penalties for aggravated offenses that involve large volumes of calls or lead to significant financial loss for individuals.
Contention
While the bill has garnered support among consumer advocacy groups, some questions have arisen regarding its implementation and potential overreach. Critics are concerned about the ramifications of increased penalties and whether they might inadvertently impact legitimate businesses that rely on telemarketing as part of their operations. Additionally, there are debates about the effectiveness of imposing stricter penalties versus improving enforcement mechanisms to address violations more efficiently. This has led to discussions around balancing consumer protection with the operational needs of legitimate telemarketing entities.
Robo Calls Off Phones Act or the Robo COP Act This bill directs the Federal Trade Commission to revise the do-not-call registry provisions of the Telemarketing Sales Rule to prohibit politically-oriented recorded message telephone calls to numbers listed on that registry. A politically-oriented recorded message telephone call is an outbound telephone call that plays a recorded message that (1) promotes, advertises, campaigns, or solicits donations for or against a political candidate or regarding a political issue; or (2) uses a political candidate's name.