Technology, Communications & Media

Pursuant to the Pallone-Thune Telephone Robocall Abuse Criminal Enforcement and Deterrence Act (“TRACED Act”) and FCC rules, the FCC must annually select a single registered consortium that conducts private-led efforts to trace back the origin of suspected unlawful robocalls.

Perdue for Senate, Inc., the Senate campaign committee for former U.S. Senator David Perdue (R-GA), petitioned the Federal Communications Commission (“FCC”) to issue a declaratory ruling asking the agency to clarify that delivering a voice message directly to a voicemail box through ringless voicemail (“RVM”) technology does not constitute a “call” under the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (“TCPA”) or FCC rules.

The FCC adopted rules establishing a new reporting system for private entities to alert the FCC Enforcement Bureau directly of suspected robocalling and spoofing campaigns.

America’s largest voice service providers are now using STIR/SHAKEN caller ID authentication standards on their Internet Protocol (“IP”) networks.

On June 25, 2021, a sharply divided U.S. Supreme Court issued a ruling, which may significantly impact the plaintiffs’ ability to pursue TCPA and other types of privacy class actions in federal courts. In TransUnion LLC v. Ramirez, Case No. 20-297, the Court opined that most of the plaintiffs failed to show a “concrete” injury and thus had no standing to pursue their claims because they did not suffer real, personal harm. Reaching beyond the specific facts of the case, this opinion bolstered the companies’ legal defense in federal privacy class actions.

The next-generation of wireless technologies – known as 5G – is here. Not only is it expected to offer network speeds that are up to 100 times faster than 4G LTE and reduce latency to nearly zero, it will allow networks to handle 100 times the number of connected devices, revolutionizing business and consumer connectivity and enabling the “Internet of Things.” Leading policymakers – federal regulators and legislators – are making it a top priority to ensure that the wireless industry has the tools it needs to maintain U.S. leadership in commercial 5G deployments. This blog provides monthly updates on FCC actions and Congressional efforts to win the race to 5G.

Federal agencies took several actions this week to spur broadband deployment, helping to alleviate what the pandemic has already highlighted – Americans need greater access to reliable, high-speed Internet services to continue to engage in the virtual activities, such as telehealth and distancing learning, that have now become a normal part of our daily lives.

District Courts are slowly clarifying the effect of Facebook, Inc. v. Duguid on cases in both the pleading and summary judgment stages of litigation.

As part of its efforts to combat illegal robocalls, the FCC signed the “Mutual Assistance in the Enforcement of Laws on Certain Unlawful Communications” Memorandum of Understanding (“MOU”) with the Australian Communications and Media Authority (“ACMA”).

This edition discusses an online portal for submitting information about suspected robocalling and ID spoofing; the Senate’s Deter Obnoxious, Nefarious and Outrageous Telephone (DO NOT) Call Act (S. 1913), which could impose strict new penalties for TCPA violations; a Memorandum of Understanding with the Australian Communications and Media Authority that may help coordinate a global approach to unlawful robocalls and spoofing; and recent district court rulings that may help clarify the impact of the Supreme Court’s Facebook decision on future TCPA-related litigation.

The Deter Obnoxious, Nefarious and Outrageous Telephone (DO NOT) Call Act (S. 1913) seeks to impose strict new penalties for violations of the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA).

The next-generation of wireless technologies – known as 5G – is here. Not only is it expected to offer network speeds that are up to 100 times faster than 4G LTE and reduce latency to nearly zero, it will allow networks to handle 100 times the number of connected devices, revolutionizing business and consumer connectivity and enabling the “Internet of Things.” Leading policymakers – federal regulators and legislators – are making it a top priority to ensure that the wireless industry has the tools it needs to maintain U.S. leadership in commercial 5G deployments. This blog provides monthly updates on FCC actions and Congressional efforts to win the race to 5G.

The May 2021 TCPA Digest discusses a proposal to speed up STIR/SHAKEN implementation for small voice service providers, a proposed protective order to safeguard confidential information submitted to the FCC’s Robocall Mitigation Database (RMD), and a Sixth Circuit case confirming that a company can’t be liable in a junk-fax case unless it has some knowledge that an unsolicited fax has been sent.

Commission Considering Reduced STIR/SHAKEN Extension for Small Providers

Sixth Circuit Demands “Some Level of Knowledge” for Liability in Junk-Fax Cases, Confirms TCPA Reaches e-Faxes

Commission Seeks Input on Protective Order for Robocall Mitigation Database

The next-generation of wireless technologies – known as 5G – is here. Not only is it expected to offer network speeds that are up to 100 times faster than 4G LTE and reduce latency to nearly zero, it will allow networks to handle 100 times the number of connected devices, revolutionizing business and consumer connectivity and enabling the “Internet of Things.” Leading policymakers – federal regulators and legislators – are making it a top priority to ensure that the wireless industry has the tools it needs to maintain U.S. leadership in commercial 5G deployments. This blog provides monthly updates on FCC actions and Congressional efforts to win the race to 5G.

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) released a Public Notice announcing that the application filing window for Round 2 of its COVID-19 Telehealth Program will run for seven days starting April 29, 2021. The application portal will open at noon ET on Thursday, April 29, and close one week later at noon ET on Thursday, May 6. Round 2 of the FCC's COVID-19 Telehealth Program will make an additional almost $250 million available to fund telehealth and connected care services provided by eligible providers during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

The FCC issued a record $225 million fine against a pair of robocallers and its Enforcement Bureau issued cease-and-desist letters to eight voice providers.