Regulatory Enforcement

FTC Fines New Jersey Septic Tank Cleaning Company $1.6 Million for DNC Violations

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) reached an agreement with the owners of a New Jersey-based septic tank cleaning supplies company over robocall violations. The owners of the company will pay a fine of $1.6 million, accept a permanent ban on telemarketing, and turn over a residential property.

a woman holds a phone and ponders something in front of a green background

What Is a Robocall?

The practical consequences of telemarketing regulation and the outcomes of telemarketing litigation often turn on how key terminology in regulatory legislation and rules is interpreted. As seen with the ongoing debate over how to interpret the Telephone Consumer Protection Act’s (TCPA) definition of “automatic telephone dialing system (ATDS),” this can be an issue even with terms that are explicitly defined in federal statutes. For a term such as “robocall” that lacks a clear definition, this can be significantly more complicated.

One Year Later: Tracking the Implementation of the TRACED Act

December 30, 2020 marks the one year anniversary of President Donald Trump signing the Pallone-Thune TRACED Act into law. The law, whose name is an acronym for Telephone Robocall Abuse Criminal Enforcement and Deterrence, is the first major federal telemarketing legislation in more than a decade.

Nathan Simington speaks to the Senate Commerce Committee

Simington Confirmed to FCC in Last Minute Vote

The Senate confirmed Nathan Simington as a Commissioner on the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). The confirmation vote, which fell along party lines 49-46, was somewhat surprising as Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell had not been expected to prioritize it over other procedural moves with the Senate’s limited time remaining before the end of this year’s session.

a vintage looking "Greetings from San Diego, California" postcard

FCC Fines Telemarketer $10 Million for Caller ID Spoofing

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) levied an enormous fine against a San Diego-based telemarketer for violations of the Truth in Caller ID Act. The $10 million fine arises from a robocall campaign related to a 2018 election for a seat in the California Assembly.

A man holds his head in his hands while a judge points at him and bangs a gavel

What Are the Penalties Associated with TCPA Violations?

The Washington DC offices of the Federal Trade Commission

FTC Fines VoIP Service Provider $2 Million for TSR Violations

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the State of Ohio have announced that they are fining Globex Telecom, Inc.—a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) service provider—approximately $2 million for violating multiple consumer protection regulations, including the Telemarketing Sales Rule (TSR) and Ohio’s Telephone Solicitation Sales Act.

A longhorn steer in a field, with mountains and clouds in the distance

FCC Enforcement of Spoofed Robocalls Leads to Proposed $225 Million Fine

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has made enforcement of robocall violations, particularly those involving spoofed numbers, a top priority, particularly since the passage of the TRACED Act at the end of last year.

an elderly man looks at his smartphone suspiciously

FCC and FTC Warn Three Gateway Providers About COVID-Related Scam Robocalls

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and Federal Trade Commission (FTC) issued letters to three gateway providers demanding that they shut off traffic to overseas robocallers whom the Commissions have identified as engaging in scam calls related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

A man in a suit, his hands behind him in handcuffs, standing in front of a courthouse

Judge Orders Defendant in TCPA Case to Be Arrested

While Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) violations can be very expensive, it’s rare for them to result in an arrest. A telemarketer in Texas has managed to conduct himself so egregiously in his TCPA lawsuit that he may end up spending some time behind bars, or at least in handcuffs.