FCC Publishes Final ‘Robo Call’ Rules Requiring Written Consent From Consumers

The Federal Communications Commission published final rules in the June 8 Federal Register that will make it harder for telemarketers to bombard people with auto-dialed, prerecorded calls, often referred to as “robo calls.”

The FCC order, approved in a 3-0 vote in February, requires “prior express written consent” for all auto-dialed or prerecorded telemarketing calls to wireless telephone numbers and for prerecorded telemarketing calls to residential landline phone numbers.

The order also eliminates the “established business relationship” exemption that had applied to prerecorded telemarketing calls to residential lines.

FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski has called this a “loophole” in the law. ...