ROBOCOP Act

Summary

Repeated Objectionable Bothering of Consumers on Phones Act or the ROBOCOP Act This bill amends the Communications Act of 1934 to expand the prohibition against knowingly transmitting inaccurate caller identification information to apply to: (1) persons outside the United States if the recipient is within the United States, or (2) text messages. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) must prescribe regulations that require providers of telecommunications services or IP-enabled voice services, for no additional charge, to enable technology for: (1) subscribers originating a telephone call to verify the accuracy of their caller identification information; and (2) subscribers receiving a call to use, with the option to disable, technology to determine that an incoming call is verified as providing caller identification information that accurately identifies the person originating the call or to prevent the subscriber from receiving such a call. Service providers must also offer a free option for subscribers receiving a call to: (1) identify a call as originating from an automatic telephone dialing system or as using an artificial or prerecorded voice, and (2) prevent themselves from receiving such a call unless it is made by a public safety entity or the subscriber provides prior consent to receive the call. The FCC must provide an exemption process for subscribers originating a call to demonstrate: (1) their legitimate need to provide misleading or inaccurate information (such as a call to conduct an activity of a domestic violence shelter or medical practice), or (2) that the FCC has exempted a call for law enforcement purposes or because of a court order. The bill allows private actions to enjoin or recover damages for violations of the FCC's caller identification technology standards. States may bring civil actions for a pattern or practice of a failure to provide such technology or options. The bill also subjects to civil forfeiture penalties, criminal fines, or state actions persons who intentionally cause call-blocking technology to: (1) incorrectly identify calls as originating from an automatic dialing system or using an artificial or prerecorded voice, or (2) prevent the called party from receiving a call made by a public safety entity or a call to which it has provided its prior consent.

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Timeline

1. 13 April 2016

   Introduced

   Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

   Source: IntroReferral

2. 13 April 2016

   Introduced

   Introduced in House

   Source: IntroReferral

3. 13 April 2016

   Introduced

   Introduced in House

   Source: IntroReferral

4. 15 April 2016

   Referred

   Referred to the Subcommittee on Communications and Technology.

   Source: Committee

Votes

No vote records are attached yet.

Versions

• Introduced in House · 13 April 2016 · Official file

Documents

3 official files

• Introduced in House (text)

  Introduced in House · EN · 13 April 2016

  ViewDownloadOpen at official source

• Introduced in House (PDF)

  Introduced in House · EN · 13 April 2016

  ViewDownloadOpen at official source

• Introduced in House

  summary · EN · 13 April 2016

  Open at official source

Sponsors

• Jackie Speier · D · Sponsor
• Rep. Cohen, Steve [D-TN-9] · D · Sponsor
• Sen. Van Hollen, Chris [D-MD] · D · Sponsor
• Rep. DeSaulnier, Mark [D-CA-10] · D · Cosponsor
• Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large] · D · Cosponsor
• Rep. Farr, Sam [D-CA-20] · D · Cosponsor
• ALCEE HASTINGS · D · Cosponsor
• Rep. Huffman, Jared [D-CA-2] · D · Cosponsor
• Rep. Takano, Mark [D-CA-39] · D · Cosponsor
• Rep. Hahn, Janice [D-CA-44] · D · Cosponsor
• Rep. Dingell, Debbie [D-MI-6] · D · Cosponsor
• Rep. Brownley, Julia [D-CA-26] · D · Cosponsor
• Raúl Grijalva · D · Cosponsor
• Niki Tsongas · D · Cosponsor
• Rep. Rangel, Charles B. [D-NY-19] · D · Cosponsor
• Rep. Schakowsky, Janice D. [D-IL-9] · D · Cosponsor
• Rep. Thompson, Mike [D-CA-4] · D · Cosponsor
• Alan Lowenthal · D · Cosponsor
• Sen. Schiff, Adam B. [D-CA] · D · Cosponsor
• Rep. Honda, Michael M. [D-CA-17] · D · Cosponsor
• Rep. Lofgren, Zoe [D-CA-18] · D · Cosponsor
• PETER VISCLOSKY · D · Cosponsor
• · hsif00 · Standing

Related records

• related to → Anti-Spoofing Act of 2016
• related to ← ROBOCOP Act