WASHINGTON—The Senate Commerce Committee is being warned against "hampering the ability of credit unions to make legitimate communications to their members" through legislation aimed at targeting illegal robocalls.
Brad Thaler, NAFCU's vice president of legislative affairs, sent a letter to the Senate Commerce Committee ahead of the markup of the Telephone Robocall Abuse Criminal Enforcement and Deterrence (TRACED) Act, S. 151. In the letter, he offered the association's support for "tackling the scourge of unwanted illegal robocalls" and stressed the need to "protect credit unions' ability to freely communicate with their members on important issues related to their existing accounts." The TRACED Act would enhance the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) enforcement authority over violations of the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) and require voice service providers to authenticate and block illegal robocalls.
Thaler also shared some additional changes credit unions would like to see included in the TRACED Act related to the "intent" requirement for a TCPA violation, STIR/SHAKEN call authentication framework and correcting any unintended blocking by voice service providers.
As CUToday.info reported here, CUNA has also sent a letter opposing the TRACED Act as currently written.