CRTC Proposes Mandatory Robocall Traceback Process Participation for ALL Voice Service Providers; Comments Due March 29; Replies Due April 12
In its latest move to combat illegal robocalls, the Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission (“CRTC” or “Commission”) has just released a Notice of Consultation (“NOC”), inviting public comments on its proposal to require all telecommunications service providers (“TSPs”) offering voice telecommunications services in Canada to participate in its call traceback process. Participation in the traceback […]
CRTC and Statistics Canada Launch Annual Telecommunications Survey; Most Telecommunications Service Providers Must File Mandatory Forms by March 1 and March 31
On February 15, the Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission (“CRTC”) and Statistics Canada launched the 2024 Annual Telecommunications Survey (the “Survey”). The Survey collects important information about the revenues, operations, and ownership of companies providing telecommunications or broadcast services to Canadians. The collected data is then used to determine which telecommunications service providers (“TSPs”) must […]
FCC Adopts New Rules for Robocall/Robotext Consumer Consent Revocation, Codifying Its 2015 and 2012 Rulings; Do-Not-Call Requests and Consent Revocations To Be Honored Within 10 Days
On February 15, 2024, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) adopted the draft Report and Order and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking containing new rules that would enhance consumer protection against unwanted robocalls and robotexts. The rules will simplify the process for consumers to revoke consent and mandate timely compliance from robocallers and robotexters. The Telephone […]
Canada’s Telecom Watchdog Urges All Telecommunications Service Providers to Ensure Access to 911 Services in Both English and French Immediately; the Risks of Doing Business in Quebec in English Only are Even Greater
On January 19, 2024, the Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) sent a letter to all registered telecommunications service providers (TSPs), urging all TSPs who are required to provide access to emergency calling services in Canada to ensure that their customers have access to 911 services in the official language of their choice. Canada’s official […]
FCC Recognizes Robocalls Made Using AI as “Artificial,” Requiring Consumers’ Prior Express Consent, Disclosure, and Opt-Out Mechanisms; Effective Immediately
Today, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC, Commission) unanimously adopted a Declaratory Ruling that recognizes calls made with AI-generated voices as “artificial” under the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA), effective immediately. In this Declaratory Ruling, the FCC confirms that the TCPA’s restrictions on the use of “artificial or prerecorded voice” encompass current and burgeoning AI technologies […]
Action Required for U.S.-Based Voice Service Providers in Response to FCC Public Notice Regarding Lingo Telecom, LLC
We wish to inform you about a recent enforcement action taken by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) that may impact your operations as a U.S.-based voice service provider. The FCC’s Enforcement Bureau has issued a Public Notice regarding significant, apparently unlawful robocalls originating from or transmitted by Lingo Telecom, LLC (Lingo). Concurrently, the Enforcement Bureau […]
Businesses Must Report Beneficial Ownership Information to FinCEN: Existing Companies Have Until 2025 To File; New Entities Must File Within 90 Days of Formation
On January 1, 2024, the bipartisan Corporate Transparency Act (“CTA”) went into force. It requires most entities to report and timely update the information about their primary owners and officers (beneficial owners) with the Department of Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (“FinCEN”). Existing entities have until January 1, 2025, to file the initial report, but […]
FCC Imposes $14M Forfeiture on For Affordable Connectivity Program Fraud
In a recent Notice of Apparent Liability for Forfeiture and Order Initiating Removal Proceeding (NAL), the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has proposed a substantial penalty of $14,021,293 against Tone Communication Services LLC. The FCC alleges that Tone Communication willfully and repeatedly violated federal rules related to the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) and the federal wire […]
FCC Chairwoman Rosenworcel Proposes to Classify AI-Generated Voices “Artificial” Voices Under the TCPA, Potentially Subjecting AI Voice Marketing to Strict Anti-Robocall Rules
Today, FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel put forward a proposal urging the FCC to legally categorize calls made with AI-generated voices as “artificial” under the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA). According to the Chairwoman, this move aims to make “deepfake” scam calls cloning other people’s voices illegal. The prevalence of such deceptive calls has surged in […]
Rep. Pallone Introduces a Bill that Would Expand the “Robocall” Definition to AI-Generated Messages; Calls Made to Stored Phone Numbers; and Texts
U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone (D. N.J.), who, along with Senator John Thune (R. S.D.), previously introduced and spearheaded passage of the Pallone-Thune Telephone Robocall Abuse Criminal Enforcement and Deterrence Act” (TRACED Act) in the House of Representatives, recently introduced the “Do Not Disturb Act,” a comprehensive bill seeking to expand the current statutory definition of […]
FCC Adopts Nationwide Location-Based Routing Rules for Wireless Calls and RTT Communications to 911 Call Centers
In response to the evolving landscape of wireless services and concerns raised by public safety advocates and the public, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has unveiled a new set of rules designed to improve the accuracy of 911 call routing. The Commission seeks to address the issue of “misrouting-“ where calls made near jurisdiction borders […]
FCC Chair Responds to Senator Lujan Regarding the USF Program and Need for Reforms to the Contribution System
On January 12, 2024, FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel sent a letter responding to a series of questions from Senator Lujan regarding proposals to modify the contribution base for the Universal Service Fund (USF). As our firm has previously advised in multiple client advisories, the federal Universal Service Fund (USF) contribution system is under considerable stress due to […]
Important Notice Regarding Mandatory Data Request from the California Public Utilities Commission
Attention to All Companies Registered as “Nomadic” Interconnected VOIP Service Providers in California We wish to alert you to a crucial development from the California Public Utilities Commission (CA PUC) that may significantly impact your business operations if you have previously registered as a “Nomadic” Interconnected Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) service provider in the […]
FCC Votes to Mandate Outage Reporting by Wireless, Cable, Wireline, and Interconnected VoIP Service Providers During Disasters; Seeks Comment on Requiring Broadband Internet Access Service Providers and TV/Radio Broadcasters to Do the Same
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC, the Commission) voted unanimously on Thursday to adopt the Second Report and Order and Second Notice of Proposed Rulemaking requiring additional types of telecom providers to report network outages during disasters to the Disaster Information Reporting System (DIRS). The new rules require cable, wireline, wireless, and interconnected Voice over Internet […]
FCC’s Crackdown On Illegal Robotexts Effective On March 26, 2024: Lead Generator Loophole Closed, DNC Registry Applies To Texts, Opt-Ins Encouraged for Email-To-Text, Mobile Carriers Required to Block Texts After Notification; Comments Sought on New Proposed Robotext Rules
As delineated in a previous Client Advisory in December 2023 the Federal Communications Commission (“FCC” or “Commission”) released its Second Report and Order, Second Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, and Waiver Order (“Order,” “NPRM,” and “Waiver”). The Order imposes new strict regulations on robotexting. The NPRM seeks comments on additional proposed robotext rules. The Waiver allows […]
FCC’s New Robocall Mitigation Plan & Certification Filing Deadline In Effect: All Voice Service Providers Must Comply By No Later Than February 26, 2024 Or Face Steep Sanctions
As delineated in a previous Client Advisory, nearly a year ago the Federal Communications Commission (“FCC” or “Commission”) released a Report and Order and Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (Order” and “NPRM”) imposing stringent new robocall mitigation rules on all voice service providers (“VSPs”) operating in the U.S. One of the key provisions of the Order is the imposition […]
