TCPA

A seller who authorizes a third-party telemarketer to market the seller’s goods or services may be held vicariously liable if the telemarketer violates the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA), the Federal Communications Commission held in a May 9 declaratory ruling.

The FCC’s ruling interprets two subsections of the TCPA. The first subsection — 47 U.S.C. § 227(b) — includes several restrictions, including a general prohibition on making calls to landline or mobile telephones using a prerecorded message without  the recipient’s prior express consent. Section 227(b)(3) allows individuals or companies to bring private lawsuits “based on a violation of this subsection” or the FCC’s implementing regulations.

A separate portion of the TCPA — 47 U.S.C. § 227(c) — authorizes the FCC to set up a national Do Not Call registry, which the FCC did in coordination with the Federal Trade Commission several years ago. Section 227(c)(5) authorizes private lawsuits by individuals who receive “more than one telephone call within any 12-month period by or on behalf of the same entity” in violation of the Do Not Call rules.

Last week’s declaratory ruling came in response to questions referred to the FCC by two federal courts in two separate TCPA-based lawsuits.Continue Reading FCC Confirms That Sellers Can Be Liable for Telemarketer TCPA Violations

The Federal Communications Commission has ruled that companies may send a one-time text message to confirm that a subscriber has opted out of receiving text messages without violating the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA).  In the FCC’s view, if a consumer has consented to receiving text messages and subsequently opts…

Continue Reading FCC: Sending Opt-Out Confirmation Text Does Not Violate TCPA

Last week, a district court declined to stay a lawsuit against Google Inc. and group-texting service Slide, Inc. alleging a violation of the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (“TCPA”).  The court found that a related, ongoing proceeding at the Federal Communications Commission relating to the scope of the definitions of “consent&rdquo…

Continue Reading Companies Struggle With Lack Of Clarity Around TCPA And Text Messaging

On Wednesday, the United States Supreme Court unanimously held that the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (“TCPA”) allows private citizens to seek relief in federal (in addition to state) court.  Overturning an Eleventh Circuit decision that Congress had vested jurisdiction over private TCPA actions exclusively in state courts and disagreeing with…

Continue Reading Supreme Court Holds That Private Plaintiffs May Bring TCPA Claims In Federal Court

Last week, a federal judge denied a motion to dismiss a putative class action brought under the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) against Citibank concerning its transmission of text messages.  The case — Ryabyshchuk v. Citibank N.A., — is notable because one of the issues it addresses is whether an entity that transmits a text message to confirm a consumer’s opt out request has transmitted the message without the consumer’s prior express consent.  The Mobile Marketing Association’s Guidelines for text message campaigns advises that such confirmation messages should be sent.  In the ruling, Judge Irma Gonzalez of the Southern District of California held that Citibank could be liable for two messages: the first that allegedly inviting the applicant to call to discuss a credit card application, and the second that allegedly confirmed the consumer’s request to opt out of receiving future messages.  The consumer sought to opt out of receiving future messages after receiving the first text message from Citibank.
Continue Reading Court Permits Class Action to Proceed Where Text Message Confirmed Opt Out Request

Reps. Lee Terry (R-NE) and Ed Towns (D-NY) have introduced the Mobile Informational Call Act of 2011 (H.R. 3035).  H.R. 3035 would amend the Telephone Consumer Protection Act — which is administered and enforced by the Federal Communications Commission but also authorizes private rights of action —  to…

Continue Reading Reps. Terry and Lee Introduce TCPA Reform Measure