Illinois Fights to Stop Robo-Calls from Cell Phones

Attorneys general are teaming up to voice their opposition to proposed federal legislation aiming to allow robo-calls to cell phones.

Indiana Attorney General Greg Zoeller joined Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan in Chicago today to help warn consumers about House Resolution 3035, known as the “Mobile Informational Call Act of 2011.”

“Consumers everywhere should know there is a federal proposal that would drive unwanted, costly robo-calls to their cell phones,” Zoeller said. “Congress should be working to strengthen constituents’ protections against unsolicited automated messages, not weakening them.”

If passed, the proposal would amend the Communications Act of 1934 and allow for robo-calling to all cell phones, leaving consumers to foot the bill, Zoeller said. State attorneys general would not be able to enforce state laws against junk faxes, prerecorded calls or text messages.

“This bill would allow for robo-calls to consumers’ cell phones without their explicit consent,” Madigan said. “It would open up the floodgates to telemarketers and debt collectors to call at all hours of the day, and prevent my office and other state attorneys general from enforcing strong laws that have previously banned this practice of robo-calling.”

Zoeller testified in opposition of the proposal last Friday before a U.S. House Subcommittee on Communications and Technology hearing in Washington, D.C.