FCC To Provide Updated Information on Consumer Complaints About Unwanted Calls From Telemarketers

The FCC said it will provide weekly data on consumer complaints about unwanted calls from telemarketers. The agency said the promise of a weekly release builds on its declaratory ruling clarifying its interpretation of the Telephone Consumers Protection Act approved at the June 18 meeting (see 1506180046). In June, the FCC “gave the green light for do-not-disturb technology, clarifying that there are no legal barriers to service providers offering robocall-blocking technologies to consumers,” the agency said in a Wednesday news release. “While such services are available today as apps on some smartphones and on VoIP phone systems, work is still underway for many carriers and third-party providers to offer consumers these tools on traditional landline networks.” The initial data dump lists basic information on 9,803 complaints made to the FCC about unwanted calls. “This data will help improve do-not-disturb technologies” so providers can offer “the best service for consumers,” said Alison Kutler, chief of the Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau.