CK • Washington.   Gute Nachrichten für Spam-Gegner enthielt die Verkündung des Bundes­netz­amts Federal Commu­nications Com­mission im Bundes­anzei­ger vom 9. Ok­tober 2015. Die FCC veröf­fent­lichte Klar­stel­lungen des Tele­phone Con­sumer Pro­tection Act und wies auf ihre Omni­bus Decla­ratory Ruling and Or­der hin. Den erwei­terten Schutz gegen Spam fasste sie so zu­sammen:

•  Callers cannot avoid obtaining consumer consent for a robocall simply because they are not currently or presently dialing random or sequential phone numbers;
•  Simply being on an acquaintance's phone contact list does not amount to consent to receive robocalls from third-party applications downloaded by the acquaintance;
•  Callers are liable for robocalls to reassigned wireless numbers when the current subscriber to or customary user of the number has not consented, subject to a limited, one-call exception for cases in which the caller does not have actual or constructive knowledge of the reassignment;
•  Internet-to-phone text messages require consumer consent; and
•  Text messages are calls subject to the TCPA, as previously determined by the Commission.
•  The Commission also empowered consumers to stop unwanted calls by confirming that:
•  Consumers may revoke consent at any time and through any reasonable means; and
•  Nothing in the Communications Act or the Commission's implementing rules prohibits carriers or Voice over Internet Protocol providers from implementing consumer-initiated call-blocking technology that can help consumers stop unwanted robocalls.