Virginia Takes Bold Step Against Robocalls and Robotexts

New FCC Policy Spearheaded by AG Miyares Promises Consumer Relief.

In a significant move to curb unwanted telemarketing communications, Attorney General Jason Miyares of Virginia has successfully advocated for the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to adopt a new policy against robocalls and robotexts. This policy shift, requiring businesses to secure written consent from consumers before sending robotexts and making robocalls, marks a major milestone in protecting consumer privacy.

The former rule allowed lead-generating businesses to mislead consumers into consenting to communications from multiple companies, leading to an overwhelming number of unwanted calls and texts. The new FCC regulation, focusing on “one-to-one consent,” prevents these businesses from securing blanket permissions for numerous businesses.

In June, Miyares led a diverse, bipartisan coalition of attorneys general from 29 states, advocating for the FCC to implement this crucial consent requirement.

“Virginians are fed up with endless robocalls and texts. I’m relieved that the FCC has heeded my recommendation and set a firm boundary by enforcing the one-to-one consent rule, safeguarding consumers from predatory practices of lead-generating businesses,” Miyares stated. “This cross-party endeavor and the ensuing policy change promise to significantly reduce harassing telemarketing communications, offering more tranquility to the citizens of Virginia.”

A typical practice in lead generation involves offering consumers online quotes for products or services like insurance. To get these quotes, consumers had to consent to receive communications from the lead generator’s marketing partners, often encompassing thousands of different businesses. These businesses were usually listed on a separate webpage, not immediately visible to the consumer.

Virginia’s campaign against these invasive marketing practices gained support from attorneys general across the United States, including Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Washington D.C., Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, New Hampshire, New Jersey, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. This widespread backing underscores the national demand for stricter regulations on telemarketing practices.