WASHINGTON, DC - The Communications and Technology Subcommittee, chaired by Rep. Greg Walden (R-OR), today held a hearing examining the impact the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) has had on consumers and the legitimate businesses that are trying to contact them.
“It’s been 25 years since Congress passed the TCPA and the world has changed dramatically in that time period. Half of U.S. households are becoming wireless, eliminating land-line phones entirely. In 2016, there are more cellphones than people in this country. It’s increasingly clear current law is outdated and in many cases counterproductive. It’s time to modernize the current law to reflect the incredible technological changes in our culture. We all share the goal of preventing harmful calls and texts from bad actors," said Chairman Walden.
Communications and Technology Vice Chairman Bob Latta (R-OH) continued, “The TCPA is clearly outdated and needs to be reformed to meet the technological changes made in the last quarter of a century. We must prioritize consumer protection by deterring bad actors, not by punishing businesses and organizations. The FCC’s broad definition of auto-dialers creates greater uncertainty for consumers and companies. Together we can modernize current law to reflect modern culture and protect hardworking Americans across the country."
Since the TCPA’s enactment in 1991, the technology for making unwanted calls has changed dramatically, making it more difficult to weed out unwanted calls without thwarting legitimate calls. During today’s hearing, members from both sides of the aisle emphasized the need for our laws to evolve as technology does, so that protecting consumer’s safety and productivity remains a priority.
