Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes has aligned with a coalition of 28 attorneys general in support of the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) One-to-One Consent Rule, aiming to reduce robocalls that have been harassing consumers. This coalition filed an amicus brief to advocate for the rule as an essential measure against such unwanted calls.
Attorney General Mayes stated, "We’re seeing more robocalls than ever, and, in addition to being extremely annoying for Arizona consumers, they’re also a gateway for fraud and consumer scams to try to drain millions of dollars from Arizonans hard-earned savings accounts each year." She emphasized the importance of maintaining nationwide enforcement tools like this rule to combat illegal robocalls.
The One-to-One Consent Rule was adopted in late 2023. It mandates telemarketers and lead generators to obtain explicit consent from consumers before contacting them or selling their contact information. Additionally, it prevents lead generators from acquiring blanket consent on behalf of multiple businesses—a practice that has previously misled consumers into receiving numerous unwanted calls or messages. Despite its benefits, the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit recently vacated the rule, citing that the FCC lacked authority.
The Federal Trade Commission reported over $1.2 billion lost by consumers due to scams through robocalls and text messages in 2023. The coalition argues that the One-to-One Consent Rule is vital in complementing state efforts against illegal robocalls by ensuring clear consent and preventing exploitation by lead generators. They contend that under the Telephone Consumer Protection Act, the FCC holds authority over this matter.
A study conducted in 2024 ranked Arizona third nationally for robocall complaints, with Phoenix and Tucson among the top ten cities for such grievances. The study also noted a 10% rise in robocall complaints within Arizona over the past year. FTC data indicated Arizonans lost nearly $145 million to various forms of fraud last year.
Attorney General Mayes participates actively in anti-robocall initiatives as part of her role on the Anti-Robocall Litigation Task Force. In 2023, she took action against Avid Telecom concerning alleged illegal robocalls and joined a coalition urging strict federal restrictions on AI use by telemarketers due to potential abuse risks.
Joining Attorney General Mayes are attorneys general from states including California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, and others across the nation.