Pallone Reintroduces Bill to Stop Robocalls

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 4, 2019

An Estimated 26.3 Billion Unwanted Calls Were Placed in the U.S. in 2018

Washington, D.C. – Today, Energy and Commerce Chairman Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) reintroduced the Stopping Bad Robocalls Act (HR 946) in the House of Representatives to stop abusive robocall practices.

Pallone’s bill would direct the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to enact strong consumer protections for authorized calls and empower the FCC with strong enforcement tools to reign in robocallers. The legislation would also ensure that consumers have the ability to stop calls they’d previously authorized and require incoming calls to have authentic caller identification information before they are delivered to customers.

“Americans are fed up with robocalls. It is incredibly annoying to repeatedly get unwanted calls from people you don’t know and don’t want to talk to,” Pallone said. “Despite previous efforts like the Do Not Call Registry, robocalls are still on the rise. The Stopping Bad Robocalls Act will equip consumer protection agencies with innovative, new tools designed to stop the abusive practices by robocallers and better restrict unauthorized robocalls.”

Last year, an estimated 26.3 billion unwanted calls were placed in the U.S., which represents a 46 percent increase in unwanted calls over the previous year. The staggering number of unwanted calls are returning huge profit margins for robocallers, with every dollar spent by robocallers returning as much as $20 profit—a 2,000 percent profit margin. Though some robocalls are initiated by legitimate companies, robocalls are also used by scammers to steal from consumers, with more than 22 million Americans losing a total of $9.5 billion in robocall scams in 2016 alone.

Pallone’s bill was also applauded by various consumer groups.

“The Stopping Bad Robocalls Act will apply essential and meaningful consumer protections from unwanted robocalls if the FCC should fail to rein in robocalls from telemarketers and debt collectors, student loan servicers and others,” said Margot Saunders, senior counsel at the National Consumer Law Center.

“The robocalls problem is out of control and, without action from Congress, will only get worse. This legislation would tackle the growing problem of "spoofed" calls that trick consumers into answering, by ensuring phone companies implement technology to stop these unwanted calls before they reach the consumer, at no additional cost. Consumer Reports applauds Congressman Pallone for his leadership in addressing this growing problem,” said Maureen Mahoney, policy analyst at Consumer Reports.

The Stopping Bad Robocalls Act would curb the rise of robocalls by:

• Amending the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) to ensure that the FCC has the authority and the tools to take strong, quick action when they track down robocallers;
• Allowing consumers to revoke consent they had previously given to receive calls at any time and in any reasonable manner;
• Codifying a reassigned number database to put robocallers on notice when a telephone number they may have previously been authorized to call has been given to a new customer who has not authorized their call;
• Limiting the number of robocalls exempted from the TCPA under the FCC’s rules;
• Requiring calls to have verified caller identification information associated with a call before the call can be put through; and
• Extending the statute of limitations from one year to four years for callers violating robocall prohibitions.

Pallone’s bill is originally cosponsored by: Anna Eshoo (D-CA), Eliot Engel (D-NY), Diana DeGette (D-CO), Mike Doyle (D-PA), Doris Matsui (D-CA), Jerry McNerney (D-CA), Peter Welch (D-VT), Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), Yvette Clarke (D-NY), Dave Loebsack (D-IA), Marc Veasey (D-TX), A. Donald McEachin (D-VA), Darren Soto (D-FL), Tom O’Halleran (D-AZ), Gerry Connolly (D-VA), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) and Charlie Crist (D-FL).

Section-by-Section available HERE.

Bill text available HERE.

Pallone: Gutting Net Neutrality Protections is Bad for New Jersey

By Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr.

The internet is one of the most powerful engines of economic growth in New Jersey in the past quarter century. But that growth is now under attack by the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) proposal to gut net neutrality protections and jeopardize the free and open internet. The FCC is expected to vote on the proposal on December 14th.

I see the economic power of the internet when I meet with small businesses around the state. Every entrepreneur tells me the same thing—they could not survive without a free and open internet. From bakers to bike shops, anyone with a new idea can start their own businesses and succeed by going online. With a working broadband connection, anyone can work from home, sell their own products online and connect with companies a world away.

It’s not just the business owners that benefit from an open internet either, so to do their employees. Half of New Jersey workers are employed by small businesses, and the other half likely looked online to find their jobs.

They can do that because the internet as we know it has been overseen by the FCC, which adopted strong net neutrality protections in 2015. These safeguards mean that people decide for themselves what they do online. This is just commonsense – you should be able to decide what videos you watch, which sites you read and which services you use. Nobody should be able to influence that choice – not the government and not the companies that run the networks.

That same commonsense approach also works for small businesses. Net neutrality ensures that any business, no matter how small, gets access to the same internet at the same speeds as giant corporate interests. The only limitation is their imagination—not their wallet.

And it’s paying off for small businesses and startups here in New Jersey. For instance, the House of Independents in Asbury Park is the venue for some of the best independent artists on the Jersey Shore. Their website allows fans to discover new artists by linking to songs and videos online.

But the Trump FCC is planning to walk away from its role of protecting consumers and small businesses online by gutting net neutrality protections.

Under the plan proposed by FCC Chairman Ajit Pai, broadband providers would be able to block some websites, speed up others, and charge extra for certain content. This plan would allow providers to create fast lanes for those who can pay and slow lanes for the rest of us. How can small businesses and startups compete if their websites are slower than the sites of larger companies? They can’t.

Without net neutrality rules, large corporate interests could also choke off conversations or content they don’t like while speeding up the content they do.

Imagine what would happen to the House of Independents if their customers had to pay a premium anytime they wanted to discover new music or if the artists had to pay more to get their videos to work. They would be at a steep disadvantage.


Chairman Pai tries to cast the fight for net neutrality as one between Silicon Valley behemoths and cable companies, but that is simply not the case. Small businesses and consumers here in New Jersey are outraged by the FCC’s plans to wipe out these critical protections. They are some of the millions of Americans from across the country who have written and called asking the FCC to stop its ill-conceived plan.

Pai argues that eliminating net neutrality will somehow lead to better broadband networks because broadband providers will invest in better services, but that is nonsense. If Republicans are serious about bringing faster broadband to more people, they should join me in supporting my LIFT America Act, which would provide federal dollars to expand broadband in unserved and underserved areas. This would ensure that everyone has access to the internet of the future without harming New Jersey.

Improving broadband for unserved and underserved Americans is not what the FCC’s plan to gut net neutrality is really about. Sadly, it’s just another example of this administration and this FCC taking from New Jersey to enrich their corporate cronies.

Now is the time to use the free and open internet to make our voices heard. We need to let the FCC know that gutting net neutrality is simply not acceptable for New Jersey.

Pallone and Doyle Request Hearing with FCC Commissioners on Trump’s Threats Against Broadcasters

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 12, 2017

Call on FCC Chairman to Disavow President’s First Amendment Threats

Washington, D.C. – Energy and Commerce Committee Ranking Member Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) and Communications and Technology Subcommittee Ranking Member Mike Doyle (D-PA) today called for a hearing with Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai and the other FCC Commissioners so that they can publicly disavow President Donald Trump’s repeated threats to revoke NBC’s broadcaster license due to its reporting:

“Over the past few days the President has repeatedly attacked news outlets and their FCC licenses. This threat alone may already be chilling free-speech across the country. That is why we and others have called on the FCC Chairman to immediately condemn this intimidation and promise to the American public that he will not follow through on the directions he has received from the President. Despite our calls, the Chairman has refused to say if he agrees with the President. We therefore ask for a hearing as soon as possible with all five FCC Commissioners so that they can publicly and under oath commit that they will not threaten broadcasters or their licenses because of the content of their reporting. Every day that goes by without comment from the FCC Chairman is a continued threat to the First Amendment.”

Pallone Applauds Passage of SANDy Act in Senate

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 12, 2017




Pallone’s Version of Legislation to Improve Communications Networks during Emergencies Passed the House Earlier this Year


WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06) applauded the Senate for passing the SANDy Act, which will help ensure the resiliency of the nation’s communications networks during emergencies. Pallone first introduced the SANDy Act in November 2015 and helped pass it in the House twice.

"The recent disasters across the country have been yet another reminder of how important it is that Congress pass my bill. I therefore applaud the Senate for passing the SANDy Act. This law complements the Resiliency Framework that we crafted with the wireless carriers last year that is already making people safer when disaster strikes. We are fast approaching the five year anniversary of when Superstorm Sandy ripped through New Jersey. We in New Jersey saw firsthand how critical communications networks can be during emergencies. We must do everything we can to be prepared for disasters like Sandy, Harvey, Irma and the wildfires in the West, and I look forward to working with my colleagues in both the House and Senate to make the SANDy Act law.”

During and after Sandy there was a major breakdown of communications networks, including cellular and home telephones, television, and internet services. This created a dangerous barrier to emergency response and recovery for residents and towns. Pallone’s SANDy Act would make sure all communication providers—radio, TV, Internet, and phone—can fix outages faster, even across state lines. It will recognize the critical role that wireline and mobile telephone, internet, radio and television broadcast, cable, and satellite services play during emergencies by providing priority access to otherwise restricted areas during emergencies like other utilities, to help them repair and maintain their communications equipment during disasters. It would also begin a process to provide 911 services over Wi-Fi hotspots during emergencies.

Last year, Pallone, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), and CTIA, together with wireless providers AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, U.S. Cellular, and Verizon announced an agreement that wireless providers will share information and advance wireless network resiliency before, during, and after disasters and emergencies. The Framework is also supported by the Competitive Carriers Association and its members. The agreement provides for reasonable arrangements for roaming during disasters when technically feasible, fostering mutual aid during emergencies, enhancing local governments’ preparedness and restoration, increasing consumer readiness and preparation, and improving public awareness and stakeholder communications on service and restoration status by providing public information on actual outages for given disasters or emergencies. The Framework is also supported by the Competitive Carriers Association and its members. That agreement has already made a difference in improving communication during recent storms.

Pallone Calls for Protections for Consumers from Unwanted Robocalls (Video)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 22, 2016


WASHINGTON, DC — Today at a Subcommittee on Communications and Technology Hearing, Congressman Frank Pallone Jr., (NJ-06) questioned representatives of the robocall industry and experts on ways to protect consumers from the growing number of unwanted and potentially predatory robocalls. Pallone and several of his colleagues requested a joint subcommittee hearing on these issues earlier this month.

The hearing focused on updating and rewriting the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) of 1991 for the 21st Century. When Congress passed the law 25 years ago, only 7.5 million cellphones were in use in the U.S. and people still relied almost exclusively on their landlines. The number of nuisance calls is also on the rise. Last year, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) received 170,000 complaints of robocalls—in stark contrast to the 37,700 complaints of these types of calls in 2004.

Robocalls can violate consumers’ privacy and often lead to fraud, frequently targeting seniors, people of color, military personnel and financially vulnerable consumers. Congressman Pallone has said that it is time for Congress to explore whether there is more that can be done to protect consumers from these unwanted intrusions and examine whether the laws should be updated for the 21st century.

The text of Congressman Pallone’s opening statement can be found below and the video can be found here.

If you think you are getting more robocalls than ever—you’re probably right. Just this past month a record 2.6 billion robocalls flooded our cell phones, work phones, and home phones. These calls are more than just a nuisance. They can add up to harassment or even outright fraud.

When Congress first passed the Telephone Consumer Protection Act 25 years ago, we stated that consumers were already “outraged over the proliferation of intrusive, nuisance calls to their homes.” Back then, we sought to balance individuals’ privacy rights, public safety interests, and commercial freedoms of speech and trade. And for a time, the law worked.

Unfortunately, a little over a decade later, these nuisance calls were on the rise again, but this time the calls did not only cause a nuisance many of them sought to defraud consumers. According to the Federal Trade Commission, consumer complaints of unwanted telemarketing calls increased over one-thousand percent between 1998 and 2002. Congress stepped in once more to stop this dramatic surge in calls. We required the FTC to create a Do Not Call Registry, among other things—again, turning back the tide of unwanted calls.

Almost like clockwork, however, nuisance calls were rebounding again nearly a decade later. Robocallers were finding new ways to circumvent the systems. The law simply wasn’t keeping up.

The FCC tried to reduce these robocalls, but they keep coming. By 2012, the FCC was receiving an average of over 10,000 complaints per month from mobile phones alone. And that number has only continued to grow to the point where last year, the FCC received more than 170,000 robocall and telemarking complaints.

Last month, the FCC convened a new Robocall Strike Force, hoping to leverage the industry in the FCC’s ongoing effort. I commend the Commission for working so diligently to address this issue, but the fact that the FCC’s actions are not reducing the number of robocalls demonstrates that it is time for Congress to once again step in. I urge the Strike Force to continue to look for technical and regulatory solutions to this problem, but Congress has a role as well.

That’s why I joined ranking members Eshoo and Schakowsky last month in asking that the Committee hold a hearing on updating the TCPA. Our constituents are rightfully growing impatient with these calls, and they expect us to fix the problem. I appreciate that Chairman Walden agreed to our request for this hearing, and I also want to thank the phone carriers for offering to work with us to address this problem. It is not a moment too soon. We all need to work together to solve this problem.

We acted to protect consumers in 1991 and in 2003. Now, 13 years later, we should again put the FTC and FCC back on firm footing, so they can step up to protect consumers from these annoying and so often dangerous calls.

With that, I’d like to thank all of our witnesses for testifying today, and yield the balance of my time to Ms. Schakowsky.

President Obama's Weekly Address 4/16/16:Ensuring Our Free Market Works for Everyone

WASHINGTON, DC — In this week’s address, the President discussed important steps the Administration has taken to encourage competition – the most essential ingredient in a healthy free market. Right now, too many companies are engaging in behaviors that stifle competition, stacking the deck against consumers, workers, and small businesses. The President emphasized that this isn’t fair – and that’s why he is doing everything he can to reverse this trend and to promote more competition. The President said that’s also why his Administration is encouraging the FCC to open up set-top cable boxes to competition, which will allow for companies to create new, innovative, higher-quality, lower-cost products – because it’s good for workers, businesses, and our economy.

Pallone Presses for Improved Communications During Emergencies

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 20, 2016

Joined Local & Federal Officials to Discuss Plan to Make Networks More Resilient

WOODBRIDGE, NJ – Today, Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-6) joined with federal and local officials at the Woodbridge Community Center to highlight the importance of having resilient communications networks, especially during emergencies. He discussed his legislation, the Securing Access to Networks in Disasters Act – or the SANDy Act – which would help to ensure that cellular, television, and 9-1-1 services continue to operate, even when unexpected storms or disasters strike.

“These days, we are more connected than ever before, which means we are also more reliant on communications networks, especially during emergencies,” said Congressman Pallone. “Fewer and fewer families have land line phones in their homes, so we count on our cell phones working. We need to be able to call for help and reach loved ones to make sure they are safe during hurricanes like Sandy or during snow storms like the one we are expecting this weekend.”

Congressman Pallone was joined today by Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel and first responders at the Woodbridge Community Center, which is the federally designated Regional Emergency Evacuation and Medical Center in time of disaster. Congressman Pallone also toured the Woodbridge OEM Emergency Operations Vehicle, a mobile command post for emergency events.

“When the unthinkable occurs, reliable communications matters,” said FCC Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel. “Three years ago, Hurricane Sandy demonstrated this with painful clarity. Now we need to take the lessons learned in the aftermath of this storm and make our networks more resilient—and our communities more safe.”

When Hurricane Sandy ripped through New Jersey three years ago, nearly one in four cell towers were knocked out. In some of the hardest hit areas of the state, as many as half of the towers went down – many of them stayed down for weeks.

Since he became the top Democrat on the powerful House Energy and Commerce Committee, Pallone has redoubled his efforts to make sure that never happens again. As part of his effort, Pallone held a Superstorm Sandy Field Forum in September with local officials, industry leaders and senior FirstNet representatives to take a critical look at lessons learned and progress made with public safety telecommunications since the hurricane.

Pallone: WWOR Has Failed New Jerseyans

With Cancellation of Last Truly Local Nightly News Program, Pallone Calls on FCC to Take Immediate Action

Washington, DC – Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06), member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee whose jurisdiction includes telecommunication by broadcast and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), sent the following letter yesterday to Acting Chairwoman of the FCC, Mignon Clyburn regarding the recent decision of WWOR-TV, Channel 9 in New Jersey to cancel its nightly news program:


July 8, 2013

The Honorable Mignon Clyburn
Acting Chairwoman
Federal Communications Commission
445 12th Street, SW
Washington, DC 20554

Dear Acting Chairwoman Clyburn:

I am writing to bring to your attention an issue of critical concern to the state of New Jersey: recent actions by WWOR-TV, Channel 9 in New Jersey, to cancel its 10 pm half-hour of news with absolutely no notice to its viewers.

As you are no doubt aware, WWOR is the state’s only commercial high-powered station. Meanwhile, because the state doesn’t have a designated market area or DMA, its nearly 9 million residents are forced to share two out-of-state DMAs. This means WWOR is our constituents’ only ability to get true local news coverage.

Unfortunately, despite this reality, WWOR has failed for over a decade to live up to its broadcasting obligations to New Jersey. Studies have shown that WWOR has provided less coverage of New Jersey politics than most of the New York-based television stations and has failed to provide adequate coverage of New Jersey news and public affairs. In addition, since purchasing WWOR in 2001, News Corporation, now 21st Century Fox, has done everything they can to avoid any commitment to serve as a truly New Jersey station.

Now, WWOR has pulled the plug on the only newscast the station had left. This action deserves immediate enforcement by your agency. In fact, considering the license renewal application of WWOR is pending before the FCC, I believe that the current license should be revoked until you can place additional conditions on the station to ensure that WWOR is both based in New Jersey and provides local news coverage to the state.

The late Senator Frank Lautenberg had repeatedly called upon your Commission to ask that you hold WWOR accountable to its licensure requirements in New Jersey. He also asked that you conclude your investigation regarding potential misrepresentations included in their license renewal application. None of which the FCC has done to date.

As a member of the Committee of jurisdiction with oversight over broadcast issues and the FCC, I have followed WWOR closely. Now, I intend to continue the work of the Senator to ensure that WWOR does not get away with these irresponsible actions.

I urge you to take serious and immediate action against WWOR. Thank you.

Sincerely,

FRANK PALLONE, JR.
Member of Congress

Pallone Announces Over Half a Million Dollars in Fire Grants for Ocean Twp., Middletown Fire Departments

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: December 21, 2011

Middletown Township Fire Department will receive $465,320

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone, Jr. Wednesday announced that two fire departments that serve his constituents in Ocean Township and Middletown have each been awarded Assistance to Firefighters Grants (AFG). Ocean Township Fire District 1 will receive $175,468 and the Middletown Township Fire Department will receive $465,320. The Ocean Township fire department will spend the grant on a new breathing apparatus which will replace 36 units that are at the end of their useful life. The Middletown Fire Department will purchase new radios to replace radios made obsolete by new Federal Communications Commission standards.

“Christmas has come early this year for these local fire departments, because without this grant it would be difficult to afford this necessary equipment,” said Pallone. “This funding will make a difference locally by making it safer for local firefighters and first responders to do their job and save lives.”

The AFG program is part of the Federal Emergency Management Agency and Department of Homeland Security and is part of a coordinated effort to improve the nation’s ability to respond to emergency situations.

Over the past year, over one million dollars in grant money has been awarded to fire departments in the sixth Congressional district to improve community emergency services.

Senate tunes out Fairness Doctrine

For people that really care about the "Fairness Doctrine", yesterdays vote in the Senate was either great news if you are a Rush Limbaugh fan or a blow to the head that stiffles free speech to progressives.

Sen. Jim DeMint(S.C.) attached an amendment onto a bill that would give the District of Columbia a voting rights in congress. The  admendment would prohibit the FCC from re-instating the Fairness Doctitrine. This amendment, theBroadcaster Freedom Act, passed along with the bill that gives Washingon, D.C voting rights.

Here is a little of what the Hill has to say about this:

The Senate voted Thursday in favor of an amendment to the District of Columbia voting-rights bill that would prohibit the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) from reinstating the so-called Fairness Doctrine, which critics say would decimate conservative talk radio.

The Senate passed the measure 87-11.

Republicans have introduced the Broadcaster Freedom Act in the House as well, but Democrats are not expected to allow a vote on the bill.

Legislation would have to pass both chambers of Congress and receive President Obama’s signature.

The FCC first implemented the doctrine in the late 1940s to balance the political content of broadcasters, requiring them to give equal time to liberal and conservative viewpoints.

The agency scrapped the regulation in the mid-'80s after determining that it was no longer necessary because the public had a wide array of political news sources from which to choose.

Since then Congress has tried twice to re-implement the Fairness Doctrine but failed because of vetoes by former Presidents Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush.

The amendment, sponsored by Senate Republican Steering Committee Chairman Jim DeMint (S.C.) and Senate Republican Conference Vice Chairman John Thune (S.D.), would block the FCC from reviving equal-time requirements by enacting the Broadcaster Freedom Act.

Read more>>> Here 

FCC Commissioner: Return of Fairness Doctrine Could Control Web Content

Bloggers beware!

There’s a huge concern among conservative talk radio hosts that reinstatement of the Fairness Doctrine would all-but destroy the industry due to equal time constraints. But speech limits might not stop at radio. They could even be extended to include the Internet and “government dictating content policy.” FCC Commissioner Robert McDowell raised that as a possibility after talking with bloggers at the Heritage Foundation in Washington, D.C

Commissioner McDowell told the Business and Media Institute that the Fairness Doctrine could be combined with the issue of net neutrality which could then lead to bloggers (Liberal or Conservative)  having to give equal time to the issues that they write about or discuss.

Click on the headline to read the story and to see a video of Commissioner McDowell discussing the issue of the Fairness Doctrine