Regulators hang up on robo-calls

By James S. Granelli
Los Angeles Times
February 15, 2012, 2:30 p.m.

Got your cellphones and your landline phones on the nation’s Do Not Call list, but you’re still getting telemarketing calls at dinner time? Especially those aggravating automated robo-calls?

The Federal Communications Commission clamped down on telemarketers Wednesday – even those you do business with, such as your bank – by placing severe limits on robo-calling and even texting.

FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski said Congress and his agency have long recognized the need for consumers to have control over the telemarketing calls that come into their homes, and the FCC has long had rules to put consumers in control.

"But despite these clear ground rules, too many telemarketers, aided by autodialers and prerecorded messages, have continued to call consumers who don’t want to hear from them," Genachowski said.

In a 3-0 vote, the commissioners adopted changes to its telemarketing rules that:

(More here.)