With the economy in crisis and the world falling apart it is hard to keep up with the latest bills that are introduced around telecommunications, robocalls, and politics.
I feel as if I've been slacking. So, here goes. Two interesting bills have been introduced around telecommunications privacy issues.
Bill # S.30: A bill to amend the Communications Act of 1934 to prohibit manipulation of caller identification information.
Introduced by Sen. Nelson (D-FL) and with 3 D and 1 R co-sponsors:
Truth in Caller ID Act of 2009 - Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to make it unlawful for any person in the United States, in connection with any telecommunications service or Internet protocol (IP)-enabled voice service, to cause any caller identification (ID) service to transmit misleading or inaccurate caller ID information, unless such transmission is exempted in connection with: (1) authorized activities of law enforcement agencies; or (2) a court order specifically authorizing the use of caller ID manipulation.
Provides civil and criminal penalties for violations. Allows for enforcement by states (with authorized intervention by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC)).
Comments:
Caller ID manipulation is one of the issues that the Robocall Privacy Act (from the 110th congress) tried to address. It is interesting that Sen. Nelson is taking this up and amending the 1934 Communications act.
This, of the two, has a better chance of passing.
NOTE: Political calls are not called out in any way. It applies to all calls.
H.R.116
Title: To direct the Federal Trade Commission to revise the
regulations regarding the Do-not-call registry to prohibit
politically-oriented recorded message telephone calls to telephone
numbers listed on that registry.
Sponsor: Rep Foxx, Virginia [NC-5]
(introduced 1/6/2009)
Cosponsors (None)
Robo COP Act: Robo Calls Off Phones - Directs the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), notwithstanding any other provision of law, to revise the do-not-call registry provisions of the Telemarketing Sales Rule to prohibit politically-oriented recorded message telephone calls to telephone numbers listed on that registry.
Defines politically-oriented recorded message telephone call.
Comments:
Rep. Foxx was the first politician to join the National Political Do Not Contact Registry and we commend her for continuing the cause. Unfortunately, she is in the minority and has no co-sponsors on the bill.
