California Attorney General Rob Bonta has joined a coalition of 47 attorneys general in supporting the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) proposed rules to combat illegal robocalls. The proposal aims to enhance the FCC’s Robocall Mitigation Database by strengthening filing requirements and increasing penalties for noncompliance.
Attorney General Bonta emphasized the significance of addressing robocalls, stating, "Robocalls are not only annoying, they can also facilitate scams that result in real financial losses for Californians. This is a nationwide problem, and we need nationwide solutions." He added that the database should be treated as more than just a formality.
The Robocall Mitigation Database was created by the FCC as an anti-robocall tool. The new rules would improve its effectiveness by identifying deficient filings, requiring corrections, and enforcing consequences for false or misleading submissions. The attorneys general view these proposals as essential for maintaining accountability and accuracy in combating unwanted robocalls.
Attorney General Bonta is actively involved in consumer protection efforts against illegal robocalls both within California and nationwide. He is part of the Anti-Robocall Multistate Litigation Task Force, which investigates and takes legal action against those responsible for significant volumes of illegal robocall traffic.
Recently, Attorney General Bonta issued warning letters to telecom companies suspected of transmitting illegal robocalls. In previous actions this year, he has addressed issues related to scam election robocalls in New Hampshire and explored the impact of artificial intelligence on consumer protection from illegal communications.
In May 2023, Bonta was part of a lawsuit against Avid Telecom for allegedly facilitating billions of unlawful robocalls involving various scams.
The comment letter submitted today includes support from attorneys general across numerous states including North Carolina, Illinois, Ohio, Arkansas, Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Colorado among others.
A copy of the comment letter is available online.