Commentary: Congress considers bills to rein-in robocallers

One would update wording that autodialers take advantage of. The other would crack down on spoofers.

By The Washington Post Editorial Board

Forget a dystopian robot future. The present, in which it is impossible to sit down to dinner without a machine calling your smartphone, is troubling enough. The scourge of robocalls has worsened in recent years, but stirrings in Congress suggest spam-slammed Americans may finally find some relief.

Consumers frustrated with the constant flow of unwanted calls have technology to thank. Gone are the days when clunky hardware meant autodialing was a hassle, and when long-distance fees could cost a marketer more than they could hope to make. Now, spammers can target thousands of phones an hour with only a click, almost for free, no matter where they are. And spoofing software allows them to do it while concealing their identities. Any solution, then, will have to tackle two problems at once: run-of-the-mill spammers who do not spoof and the fraudsters who use fake numbers for their scams.

Thankfully, proposals in both chambers of Congress offer some hope. Rep. Frank Pallone, D-New Jersey, introduced a bill in the House last week to close the loophole on autodialers who today take advantage of outdated legal language. That should deter legitimate businesses from abuse. As for the spoofers, major carriers could deploy a technology as early as this year that will tell consumers whether an incoming call comes from a verified number. FCC Chairman Ajit Pai had already urged carriers to adopt these authentication systems, but he stopped short of mandating it. Pallone’s bill would do just that, as would legislation co-written by Sens. Edward Markey, D-Massachusetts, and John Thune, R-South Dakota. And Pallone’s sensibly would require phone companies to provide blocking services against spoofers, free of charge.

The bills would also help with enforcement: The House proposal would grant the FCC the ability to fine rule-breakers at first offense, and the Senate counterpart would allow the agency to levy fines of $10,000 per call, up from $1,500. Both bills would extend the statute of limitations on violations.

The Federal Trade Commission could benefit as well from additional authority, not included in either bill, to go after telecommunications companies that are grossly negligent in stopping robocalls on their services. Resources to facilitate international cooperation, often necessary for catching a scammer, are also crucial.

Robocalls offer an easy opportunity for bipartisan consensus. After all, politicians have not been spared from the onslaught of unwanted ringing. Legislation that combines the most promising aspects of the House and Senate proposals, carving out appropriate exceptions for legitimate uses of autodialing, would be a win for every human against today’s most bothersome bots.

The above editorial appeared Sunday in The Washington Post.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Opinion

toon
Editorial cartoons for Tuesday, Feb. 18

A sketchy look at the news of the day.… Continue reading

FILE - In this Friday, Oct. 4, 2019, file photo, a man using an electronic cigarette exhales in Mayfield Heights, Ohio. On Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2019, the American Medical Association said it is calling for an immediate ban on all electronic cigarette and vaping devices. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak, File)
Editorial: Shut down flavored tobacco’s gateway to youths

Legislation in Olympia would bar the use of flavors and menthol in vape products and cigarettes.

Herald report of Everett protest inaccurate, biased

I was at the rally and protest in Everett last on Feb.… Continue reading

Media shouldn’t use ‘she’ for trans people

About 79 percent of Americans oppose those observed male at birth from… Continue reading

USAID freeze halts vital aid work

I am outraged the Trump administration is making the U.S. weaker in… Continue reading

Goldberg: Trump declares war on higher ed, not just woke parts

The move, aided by Elon Musk, to gut NIH funding, is part of a larger and debilitating attack on academia.

Comment: Trump’s Kennedy Center will narrow exposure to art

Trump’s move to takeover the Kennedy Center is not about the arts but about celebrating his tastes.

toon
Editorial cartoons for Monday, Feb. 17

A sketchy look at the news of the day.… Continue reading

Rivian, based in Irvine, Calif., has introduced its new R2 models, smaller and more affordable SUVs. (Rivian)
Editorial: Open electric vehicle market to direct sales

Legislation would allow EV makers to sell directly to customers, making lease or purchase easier.

Comment: No one saw Musk’s DOGE rampage coming or its threat

With no formal grant of authority, Musk is making cuts without fully understanding the consequences.

Douthat: Trump is chasing off lawyers he’ll need at some point

The deal to clear Adams serves Trump only as a way of identify whom he can consider loyal in the DOJ.

President Donald Trump listens alongside Elon Musk as he explains the administration’s cost-cutting efforts in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, on Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025. Musk has for weeks posted on social media about government spending, often amplifying and seeding false information. (Eric Lee/The New York Times)
Comment: This crisis can’t be left to courts alone

The courts can uphold the law, but they can’t match the speed of the executive branch in tearing down systems.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.