Getting Rid Of Robocalls: Colorado Sen. Cory Gardner Helps Pass 'Traced Act'
DENVER (CBS4/AP) -- A bill that aims to get rid of robocalls has been signed into law -- and it was co-sponsored by Colorado Sen. Cory Gardner. It's estimated Coloradans received nearly 64 million robocalls this December alone. That comes out to about 11 calls per person, on average.
The bill, called the Traced Act, requires phone companies to offer free call-blocking apps and verify that the number calling you is real. That's an issue because fraudsters fake numbers to look as though they're coming from the IRS or others to trick you.
The bill also gives the FCC more time to fine robocallers and lets the agency fine offenders without warning them first. The bill also pushes the agency to work with the Justice Department to go after criminals. Over the long term, that could act as a deterrent.
However, the final bill leaves out some protections that were in a previous version of a House bill, Mahoney notes. That version would have broadened the definition of what a robocall is and made it harder for companies like banks and cruise-ship vacation sellers to reach consumers.
The FCC has already told phone companies that they can block unwanted calls without getting customers' permission first, which could help increase the use of phone-blocking apps. That order did not require the tools be made free, while the bill does. The agency has said it expected the deployment of a new phone-number system to begin this year. Many major phone companies have begun rolling it out, but to work well all carriers must adopt it.
The phone industry trade group, USTelecom, applauded the bill's passage, saying it "will supercharge" the fight against robocallers.
But experts expect that as phone companies put more tools in place to combat robocalls, scammers will adapt and try different techniques to reach victims.
(© Copyright 2020 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
