Federal

Robo COP Act

Source: Congress.gov · 372 words in original text

What This Bill Does

This bill directs the Federal Trade Commission to change the rules for the "do-not-call" registry. The registry is a list where people can register their phone numbers to stop getting unwanted sales calls. The bill would add a new rule to stop politically oriented recorded message calls from reaching phone numbers on this list.

Who It Affects

The Federal Trade Commission (the government agency that enforces telemarketing rules). People whose phone numbers are registered on the do-not-call registry. Organizations that make politically oriented recorded message calls.

Key Provisions

• The Federal Trade Commission must change the "do-not-call" registry rules within 180 days after this bill becomes law to prohibit politically oriented recorded message telephone calls to numbers on the registry (Sec. 2(a)). • A "politically oriented recorded message telephone call" is defined as an outbound call where no person is available to speak with the person who answers and instead a recorded message plays (Sec. 2(b)(1)). • These calls are prohibited if their purpose is to promote, advertise, campaign for or against a political candidate, campaign on a political issue, or solicit donations for these purposes (Sec. 2(b)(2)(A)). • These calls are also prohibited if the recorded message uses any political candidate's name (Sec. 2(b)(2)(B)).

What Changes

If this bill becomes law, the Federal Trade Commission's telemarketing rules would be updated to ban politically oriented recorded message calls from reaching phone numbers on the do-not-call registry.

Important Definitions

Politically oriented recorded message telephone call: An outbound call where a recorded message plays instead of a live person talking with you, and the message promotes or campaigns for a political candidate or issue, solicits donations for these purposes, or uses a political candidate's name.

Effective Date

The Federal Trade Commission must complete the rule changes within 180 days after this bill becomes law. The exact date the bill becomes law is not specified in the bill text.

I 118TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION H. R. 373 To direct the Federal Trade Commission to revise the regulations regarding the ‘‘do-not-call’’ registry to prohibit politically oriented recorded message telephone calls to telephone numbers listed on that registry. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES JANUARY 17, 2023 Ms. FOXX introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce A BILL To direct the Federal Trade Commission to revise the regula- tions regarding the ‘‘do-not-call’’ registry to prohibit po- litically oriented recorded message telephone calls to tele- phone numbers listed on that registry. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa- 1 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 2 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 3 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Robo Calls Off Phones 4 Act’’ or the ‘‘Robo COP Act’’. 5 VerDate Sep 11 2014 22:37 Mar 23, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H373.IH H373 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB 2 •HR 373 IH SEC. 2. POLITICALLY ORIENTED RECORDED MESSAGE 1 PHONE CALLS PROHIBITED. 2 (a) PROHIBITED.—Notwithstanding any other provi- 3 sion of law, the Federal Trade Commission shall, not later 4 than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, 5 revise the ‘‘do-not-call’’ registry provisions of the Tele- 6 marketing Sales Rule (16 CFR 310.1 et seq.) to prohibit 7 politically oriented recorded message telephone calls to 8 telephone numbers listed on that registry. 9 (b) DEFINITION OF POLITICALLY ORIENTED RE- 10 CORDED MESSAGE CALLS.—For purposes of this section, 11 the term ‘‘politically oriented recorded message telephone 12 call’’ means any outbound telephone call— 13 (1) in which a person is not available to speak 14 with the person answering the call, and the call in- 15 stead plays a recorded message; and 16 (2)(A) the purpose of which is to promote, ad- 17 vertise, campaign, or solicit donations, for or against 18 any political candidate or regarding any political 19 issue; or 20 (B) uses in the recorded message any political 21 candidate’s name. 22 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 22:37 Mar 23, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\H373.IH H373 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB

Important: This plain English summary was generated by AI and is provided for informational purposes only. It is not legal advice. Always consult the official bill text on Congress.gov or a qualified attorney for legal matters.