To Fight Robocalls, King Cosponsors Legislation to Step Up Penalties

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME) is cosponsoring bicameral legislation cracking down on the enforcement of illegal robocalls. The Protecting American Consumers from Robocalls Act improves enforcement, and increases penalties for robocallers who violate the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA). The legislation would give the TCPA and the Do-Not-Call Registry added enforcement powers by providing all telephone subscribers, including small businesses, the ability to seek damages for all unconsented-to telemarketing calls immediately after such a call.

Robocall scams often target the most vulnerable within our communities, including senior citizens, immigrant communities, and people with disabilities. Small businesses also are bombarded with these illegal calls, creating additional and burdensome costs and interfering with productivity.

"At best, illegal robocalls are a constant annoyance - at worst, they're scams that target our most vulnerable citizens or tie up businesses' phone lines," said Senator King. "The Protecting American Consumers from Robocalls Act would enhance enforcement and increase penalties for those who break the law. It's time telemarketers are held accountable so Americans can live their lives without the flood of scam calls and texts overwhelming our phones."

More specifically, the Protecting American Consumers from Robocalls Act would:

• Amend TCPA to cover the equipment that scammers and telemarketers use by updating the definition of an Automated Telephone Dialing System to include systems which dial phone numbers from a stored list successively without human intervention.
• Allow small businesses to add their numbers to the Do-Not-Call Registry.
• Provide landline and cellular consumers, including small businesses, who have telephone numbers on the Do-Not-Call Registry, a private right of action after receiving one telephone call by or on behalf of the same entity in violation of the TCPA.
• Ensure that a minimum of $500 can be levied for each violation of the Do-Not-Call Registry.

Joining King on the legislation are U.S Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Tina Smith (D-MN), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Peter Welch (D-VT), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), and U.S Representatives Jan Schakowsky (D-IL-09) and Kevin Mullin (D-CA-15).

Senator King has consistently called for the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to enforce regulations on telemarketing calls. In 2024, he cosponsored the Deter Obnoxious, Nefarious, and Outrageous Telephone (DO NOT) Call Act which would crack down on illegal robocalls and robotexts. In 2023, he sent a letter to the FCC calling for issue guidance restating long-held requirements for unwanted telemarketing calls to assist telemarketers and sellers in complying with the rules. In 2019, he also cosponsored Telephone Robocall Abuse Criminal Enforcement and Deterrence (TRACED) Act which makes it easier for regulators to find scammers, increases civil forfeiture penalties for those who are caught, promotes call authentication and blocking adoption, and brings relevant federal agencies and state attorneys general together to address impediments to criminal prosecution of robocallers who intentionally flout laws. The bill was signed into law by the President in 2019.

###