Malcolm Rivera
During election season, it is common to receive an influx of calls and texts from political campaigns. While these campaign calls and texts are exempt from the National Do Not Call Registry requirements, they must follow the rules outlined in the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA). This means that political campaigns are prohibited from using autodialed or pre-recorded calls to contact cell phones or other mobile devices without the recipient's prior consent. However, political campaigns can manually send text messages without prior consent, and they are permitted to call landlines without consent, with a limit of three calls per 30-day period. To opt out of receiving political campaign communications, individuals can usually reply STOP to revoke their consent, but this may not always be effective in stopping all unwanted messages, especially from political action committees or PACs.
Does the Do Not Call list block political campaigns?
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Are political campaigns exempt from the National Do Not Call Registry requirements? | Yes |
| Are there any other rules political campaigns must follow? | Yes, the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) contains specific rules they must follow. |
| Are political campaigns allowed to use auto-dialed or pre-recorded calls to contact cellphones or other mobile devices without consent? | No |
| Are political campaigns allowed to send manual messages without prior consent? | Yes |
| Are political campaigns allowed to send autodialed or prerecorded voice calls to landlines without prior consent? | Yes |
| Are there any restrictions on the number of political campaign calls made to landlines without prior consent? | Yes, no more than three calls within any consecutive 30-day period |
| How can I opt out of receiving political campaign messages? | Reply "STOP" to the message or text |
| How can I report political campaign messages that do not comply with FCC rules? | File an informal complaint with the FCC at fcc.gov/complaints |
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What You'll Learn
Political campaigns are exempt from the 'Do Not Call' registry
During election season, it is common to experience an increase in calls and texts from political campaigns. While it may be frustrating to receive these unwanted communications, it is important to note that political campaigns are exempt from the National Do Not Call Registry requirements. This means that even if you have registered your number on the Do Not Call list, you may still receive campaign-related calls and texts.
However, this does not give political campaigns free rein to contact you without any restrictions. The Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) outlines specific rules that campaigns must follow when making robocalls or sending robotexts. In general, prior express consent is required for political campaign-related autodialed or prerecorded voice calls, including autodialed live calls and autodialed texts, to mobile devices. This includes cell phones, pagers, or other similar devices. Campaigns are prohibited from using these methods to contact you without your consent.
On the other hand, political campaigns are permitted to make robocalls to landline telephones without obtaining prior consent. However, there are limitations to this exemption. For instance, political campaigns are restricted to making no more than three calls to a residential landline phone within any consecutive 30-day period without prior consent. Additionally, for calls and texts that do require consent, the campaign must honor your request to revoke consent at any time.
If you wish to stop receiving political campaign-related communications, you can reply with the word "STOP". Campaigns should honor these opt-out requests. You can also report unwanted messages as spam by forwarding them to 7726. Additionally, you can file an informal complaint with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) if you believe you have received a political robocall or text that does not comply with their rules.
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Political robocalls to landlines do not require prior consent
During an election season, it is common to receive an influx of calls and texts from political campaigns. While it may be frustrating to be disturbed by these unsolicited forms of communication, it is important to note that political campaigns are generally exempt from the National Do Not Call Registry requirements. This means that even if you have registered your number on the "Do Not Call" list, you may still receive political robocalls or texts during election periods.
However, it is not entirely true that political campaigns can disregard your wishes not to be contacted. Under the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA), there are specific rules that political campaigns must follow when conducting their outreach activities. For example, political campaigns are prohibited from using autodialed or pre-recorded calls, including autodialed live calls, autodialed texts, and pre-recorded voice messages, to contact cell phones, pagers, or other mobile devices without your prior express consent. This consent-based requirement also extends to protected phone lines, such as emergency or toll-free lines, or lines serving hospitals or similar facilities.
Despite this, there is an exception to the rule. Political campaigns are permitted to make autodialed or pre-recorded voice calls to landline telephones without obtaining prior consent. This means that if you have a landline phone, you may receive political robocalls even if you have not given your explicit permission. However, there is a limit to the number of calls they can make, which is restricted to no more than three calls within any consecutive 30-day period.
If you wish to stop receiving political robocalls or texts, you can take several steps. Firstly, you can reply with the word "STOP" to any political campaign message you receive. By law, legitimate political campaigns should honor your request and remove you from their contact list. Additionally, you can report unsolicited messages as spam by forwarding them to 7726. You can also adjust your smartphone settings to filter and block unwanted messages. If you believe you have received a political robocall or text that violates FCC rules, you can file an informal complaint with the FCC at fcc.gov/complaints.
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Political robocalls to mobiles require prior consent
During an election season, it is common to receive an influx of calls and texts from political campaigns. While these campaign communications are generally exempt from the National Do Not Call Registry requirements, they must adhere to specific rules outlined by the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA).
Political campaigns are permitted to make informational robocalls and send robotexts to mobile phones, but only with the prior express consent of the recipient. This means that political organizations need your permission to send you automated messages or make autodialed calls to your cell phone or other mobile devices. The same restrictions extend to protected phone lines, such as emergency or toll-free lines, or those serving hospitals or similar facilities.
On the other hand, political campaigns are allowed to make robocalls to landline telephones without seeking prior consent. However, there is a limit to these calls, with no more than three calls allowed to the same residential landline phone number within any consecutive 30-day period.
It's important to note that you have the right to revoke your consent at any time. If you no longer wish to receive these communications, you can simply reply "STOP" to a text or indicate your preference during a voice call. Additionally, you can explore call-blocking resources, adjust your phone settings, or utilize third-party apps to manage and block unwanted calls and texts.
If you believe you have received a political robocall or text that violates FCC rules, you can take action by filing an informal complaint with the FCC. This can be done online at fcc.gov/complaints or by mail, providing your name, address, contact information, and details about your complaint.
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Political robocalls to landlines are limited to three calls per 30 days
During an election season, it is common to receive an influx of calls and texts from political campaigns. While it may be frustrating to be bombarded with these messages, particularly if you are on the National Do Not Call list, it is important to note that political campaigns are exempt from this registry. This exemption applies to both calls and texts, including those that are manually sent or use auto-dialers and pre-recorded messages.
However, despite this exemption, political campaigns must adhere to specific rules outlined in the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA). For instance, political robocalls to landlines without prior consent are limited to three calls within any consecutive 30-day period. This means that if a campaign has not received your consent to call, they are only allowed to contact you via landline three times in a month. This restriction aims to balance the needs of political campaigns to reach voters with the privacy and preferences of individuals.
It is worth noting that the TCPA sets different standards for calls made to mobile phones. Political campaigns are prohibited from using auto-dialed or pre-recorded calls, including autodialed live calls and autodialed texts, to contact mobile devices without the prior express consent of the recipient. This consent can be revoked at any time, and campaigns must respect these opt-out requests. To revoke consent, individuals can reply "STOP" to a text or verbally request to not be called again on a voice call.
If you believe you have received political robocalls that do not comply with these regulations, you can take steps to address the issue. You can file an informal complaint with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) by visiting their website or mailing your complaint. Additionally, you can utilize call-blocking resources, such as those offered by phone companies or third-party apps, to proactively prevent unwanted calls from reaching your phone. These tools can help reduce the number of unwanted political robocalls you receive, ensuring your peace of mind during election seasons.
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Consumers can revoke consent at any time
Political campaigns are exempt from the National Do Not Call Registry requirements. However, the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) contains specific rules that they must follow. For instance, political campaign-related autodialed or prerecorded voice calls, including autodialed live calls, autodialed texts, and prerecorded voice messages, are prohibited to cell phones, pagers, or other mobile devices without the called party's prior express consent.
It is important to note that consent is associated with the consumer, not the phone number. So, if a phone number gets reassigned to someone new, any prior consent associated with that number is immediately revoked. To avoid potential legal issues, it is important to check if a number has been reassigned. This can be done by referring to the US Reassigned Number Database (RND).
If a consumer believes they have received a political robocall or text that does not comply with the FCC's rules, they can file an informal complaint with the FCC at fcc.gov/complaints. Additionally, many phone companies enable their customers to block unwanted calls by enrolling in a service or installing an app. Consumers can also adjust certain settings on their phones or sign up with a third-party service to block suspected unwanted calls.
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Frequently asked questions
No, the Do Not Call Registry is exempt from political campaigns.
You can reply with "STOP" to opt out of receiving political campaign messages.
You can report the number by forwarding the messages to 7726 or SPAM. You can also file a complaint with the FCC at fcc.gov/complaints.
Political campaigns are not allowed to use auto-dialed or pre-recorded calls to contact your cellphone or mobile device without your consent.
You can adjust your phone settings, sign up with a third-party service, or download a third-party app to block suspected unwanted calls.
