FCC closes loophole in robocall law

Telemarketers will have to get written consent earlier placing automated calls to consumers in accordance with new rules communications regulators voted to adopt on Wednesday.

The Federal Communications Commission will enforce stricter rules on so-called telemarketing robocalls, mandating that these autodialed or prerecorded calls can only be placed to consumers who have already agreed in writing to receive them.

Companies will no longer be able to point to an established business relationship with a consumer to justify the automated pitches.

"Consumers have complained to us by the thousands about annoying robocalls," said FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski while the agency's monthly open meeting.

Robocalls made by charities and political campaigns and providing information like school closings, flight changes and prescription refill reminders will not be affected by the new rules.

The vote cracks down on telemarketers for banks

The vote cracks down on telemarketers for banks, insurance agents, phone companies and others who used loopholes in the law that established the Federal Trade Commission's Do Not Call Registry to continue to automatically dial consumers.

The FCC said the calls invade consumers' privacy. The agency noted that the calls often cut into wireless clients' minutes as more consumers rely solely on wireless services and do not have landlines.

All robocalls will as well have to include an automated opt-out option to allow consumers to on the spur of the moment notify telemarketers that they no longer want to receive these calls.

The FCC as well voted to require Voice over Internet Protocol services, or VoIP, to report network outages that affect 911 emergency calls. The reporting requirements are in place for traditional carriers, and the vote extends them to the near one-third of residential telephone subscriptions provided through VoIP services like those of Vonage Holding Corp.