Telephone Consumer Protection Act

In 1991, when wireless phones were deemed a “luxury item,” the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) was enacted to address certain telemarketing practices considered an invasion of consumer privacy, including calls to wireless phones (but not calls to landline phones). Today, 90% of Americans own wireless telephones, and 58.8% of households are mostly or entirely wireless-only. Though consumer preferences have changed, the TCPA has not. It continues to prohibit calls and messages to wireless phones even though they have clearly surpassed landline phones as the preferred means of communication. Without common sense reforms to modernize the TCPA, consumers will be unable to receive normal, expected communications about time-sensitive information on their mobile devices. CBA called upon the Federal Communications Commission to clarify existing rules to eliminate unintended litigation risk harming consumers and compliance driven businesses. CBA has advocated to Congress to update the TCPA to facilitate normal, expected and desired communications to consumers, and provide businesses with clarity when contacting customers.