Telemarketers may now have a harder time interrupting unsuspecting consumers with automated calls during dinner time as the FCC has put forth rules that will require them to get written consent. Under the proposed rules, telemarketers will only able to place "robocalls" to consumers who have agreed in writing to receive these calls.
The FCC said that companies won't be able to simply say they have a relationship with a consumer as a way to justify the automated calls.
"Consumers have complained to us by the thousands about annoying robocalls," said FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski during the agency's monthly open meeting.
Specifically, the new rules will apply mainly to telemarketers representing banks, insurance agencies, and traditional service providers who were able to continue robocalling by leveraging loopholes in the Federal Trade Commission's Do Not Call Registry.
To close those loopholes, the FCC is requiring that all robocalls will include an automated opt-out option that tells telemarketers they don't want to receive any more calls.
However, the rules won't apply to charities, political campaigns, schools providing school closing information, and pharmacies sending prescription refill reminders.
For more:
- Reuters has this article
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