Legislation to Regulate Robocalls
by Amanda Adams*, 2/12/2008
Senate Rules Committee Chairwoman Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and Senator Arlen Specter, (R-PA) have introduced legislation to regulate "robocalls." Feinstein's press release states; "The measure introduced by Feinstein and Specter would not ban robocalls, but instead places sensible restrictions on how and when the calls can be made — including limiting the hours within which calls can be made, limiting the number of calls that can be made to each household, and requiring callers to identify themselves at the beginning of the call."
Similar measures have been introduced in the House. CQ ($$) reports that Representative Virginia Foxx (R-NC) introduced H.R. 248 last year to "direct the Federal Trade Commission to prohibit politically oriented prerecorded calls to telephone numbers listed on the federal do-not-call registry. Democrats Jason Altmire of Pennsylvania and Zoe Lofgren of California have introduced similar measures (HR 372, HR 1383), but none has gained traction yet and prospects for action grow slimmer as the November elections approach."
