FCC NPRMs Circulate on Regulatory Fees, Robocalls Under TCPA Amendments

FCC proposals on industry regulatory fees and consumer protection are circulating, according to the agency’s list of such items, which was updated Friday. One NPRM would seek comment on a schedule of industry regulatory fees to conform with congressional appropriations mandates for FY 2016, a commission spokesman said Monday. A second NPRM would propose rules to address federal debt collection under Telephone Consumer Protection Act amendments in 2015, which gave the FCC nine months (from enactment) to adopt any new restrictions, another commission spokesman said. He said FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler is making various proposals to help consumers avoid unwanted debt collection robocalls, including on: consumer rights to stop unwanted calls; limiting calls only to debt collection of delinquent debts, including debt servicing calls that can help consumers avoid default; and limiting the number of calls per month.