The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has released a statement proposing to revise its current telemarketing rules under the Telephone Consumer Protection Act. The proposed rules would require express, affirmative consent, including electronic methods, from consumers before receiving prerecorded telephone messages. This requirement would even apply to callers who have established business relationships with consumers. The rules would also require automated interactive messages that would allow consumers to immediately “opt out” of receiving future messages. In addition to exempting federally regulated health care calls from the ban, the rules will continue to exempt noncommercial prerecorded messages, such as those from nonprofit organizations and political campaigns, as well as commercial messages that do not contain unsolicited advertisements from the requirements. The revised rules would provide for more consistent industry standards, as the proposals are in line with the more restrictive rules of the Federal Trade Commission’s Telemarketing Sales Rule.

For more information on the FCC’s proposed telemarketing rules click here.