Call and text blocking issues are heating up at the FCC. See below. This battle, balancing free speech with privacy rights, and it’s legal uncertainties is why I like push notifications so much. The Push Notifications opt-in/opt-out mechanism is in the hands of the person who downloads the app. Simple and empowering. (Thanks to Jennifer Kerr, Associated Press for this coverage)
WASHINGTON (AP) — Those automated phone calls during the dinner hour, late at night or to your wireless phone can be so frustrating — and the government is taking note.
The head of the Federal Communications Commission circulated a proposal Wednesday designed to close loopholes, reaffirm current anti-robocall rules, and encourage wireless and wireline carriers to do more to fight against unwanted telemarketing calls and spam text messages to consumers.
A key part of the plan: clearing up any confusion over whether the phone carriers can offer blocking services — so-called robo-blocking technology that could help people stop the unwanted calls.
“We are giving the green light for robocall-blocking technology,” FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler wrote in a blog-post on the commission website.
Phone companies have said that they worry that automatic call-blocking might run afoul of laws requiring them to connect phone calls.
In his blog, Wheeler said the technology can be offered without violating the rules. “The FCC wants to make it clear: telephone companies can — and in fact should — offer consumers robocall-blocking tools,” he said.