JAKARTA - The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) clarified that callers must obtain consumer approval before sending Ringless Voicemail or voice messages left in the inbox without ringing on their phones.
This decision was made by the Commission as a refusal to a petition filed by All About the Message, the LLC, asking the Commission to find that sending direct messages to voicemail consumer phones is not a call protected by the Phone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA).
The FCC also added that it has received dozens of consumer complaints each year regarding ringless voice messages.
New FCC Clarification: callers must obtain a consumer’s consent before delivering “ringless voicemail,” a message left in a consumer’s mailbox without ringing their cell phone. https://t.co/6Xr5uyx2ow
— The FCC (@FCC) November 21, 2022
TCPA, protects consumers from robocalls and prohibits someone from making non-emergency calls using automated or voice-made phone calls to wireless phone numbers without prior written consent from the summoned party.
Today, the Commission has clarified that ringless voice messages are also included in the form of robocalls and are illegal if the caller does not have prior written consent from consumers.
"Imagine finding robocaller leaving trash messages on your phone without ever having stairs. It's annoying and it's happening to many of us," FCC Chair Jessica Rosenworcel said in an announcement, shared on Twitter.
However, like any other robocall crackdown, the FCC said there was no guarantee the voicemail would stop. Spammer can find another alternative way to send this message, and the FCC can only limit spam originating from outside the US.
"Today we are taking action to ensure this fraudulent practice finds no way out of our robocall rules and into consumer inboxes," concluded Rosenworcel.
The verdict came into effect from the issuance of today's verdict. That way, ringless voice messages will be subject to TCPA Robocall. Violations can be enforced by the FCC or consumers can sue in court.
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