House Communications Subcommittee Hearing on Robocalls

The House Communications Subcommittee held a hearing on more than six robocall bills, and there was bipartisan momentum for action. Ranking Member Bob Latta (R-OH), author of one of the bills, talked up the Republican take on robocalls, which is to empower more info sharing between companies and the Federal Communications Commission, provide access to blocking technology, and to distinguish between legitimate and illegitimate robocalls. The legitimate uses, he said, include many valuable, pro-consumer applications including severe weather alerts, school closings, health reminders about prescription refills or doctors appointments, or alerts about suspicious bank activity. Chairman Mike Doyle (D-PA) conceded the pro-consumer calls, but said they only accounted for 20 percent of the 48 billion total. Full Commerce Committee Chairman Frank Pallone (D-NJ) praised the FCC for taking action on a reassigned number database along the lines of a legislative proposal of his. "I applaud this action, and I look forward to the FCC getting this database operational as quickly as possible."