According to consumerist.com, a bill introduced in Congress last week would lift the ban on robo-calls, whether political or commercial, to cell phones.
Since 1991, it’s been illegal for telemarketers to use auto-dialers and other robot-like devices to call your cell phone, according to consumerist. Last week, a bill was introduced to change that. While in the past email hoaxes have gone around saying that your cell phone could be opened up to telemarketers, HR 3035 seeks to let businesses contact mobile devices “for informational purposes.”
In a lobbying letter to key members of Congress, particularly Michigan’s Fred Upton, the St. Joseph Republican who chairs the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, business groups argue that robo-calls are beneficial to consumers. These groups claim that the calls would be launched to spread helpful information, not to engage in typical telemarketing calls.
“Businesses increasingly rely on advanced communications technologies to convey timely and important information to consumers,” the letter said. “… Unfortunately … approximately 40 percent of American consumers who identify their mobile device as their primary or exclusive means of communication do not receive many of these calls.
“This restriction imposes unwarranted costs and inconveniences on consumers, businesses, and the economy as a whole.”
So, who wrote this letter urging quick passage of the bill? Here’s the list:
American Bankers Association
ACA International
Air Transport Association
Consumer Bankers Association
Coalition of Higher Education Assistance Organizations
Edison Electric Institute
Education Finance Council
Financial Services Roundtable
Housing Policy Council
Mortgage Bankers Association
National Association of College and University Business Officers (NACUBO)
National Council of Higher Education Loan Program
Student Loan Servicing Alliance
Student Loan Servicing Alliance Private Loan Committee
The Clearing House
U.S. Chamber of Commerce
ACA International
Air Transport Association
Consumer Bankers Association
Coalition of Higher Education Assistance Organizations
Edison Electric Institute
Education Finance Council
Financial Services Roundtable
Housing Policy Council
Mortgage Bankers Association
National Association of College and University Business Officers (NACUBO)
National Council of Higher Education Loan Program
Student Loan Servicing Alliance
Student Loan Servicing Alliance Private Loan Committee
The Clearing House
U.S. Chamber of Commerce
“If that’s the list of supporters,” consumerist concludes, “you can be pretty sure it sucks for you.”
