Attorney General Schmidt opposes allowing automated calls to cell phones

TOPEKA (December 13, 2011) Kansas Attorney General Derek
Schmidt recently joined attorneys general from 47 other states and
six territories in asking Congress to reject proposed legislation
to allow automated marketing calls to mobile phones. In the letter,
the attorneys general expressed concerns for consumers privacy if
the Mobile Informational Call Act of 2011 (H.R. 3035) were to be
enacted. The attorneys general were also concerned the proposal
could undermine stricter state telemarketing laws. The proposal
would amend the Communications Act of 1934 and allow automated
marketing calls to be placed to consumers cell phones. H.R. 3035
would change the law and undermine federal and state efforts to
shield consumers from a flood of solicitation, marketing, debt
collection and other unwanted calls and texts to their cell phones,
the attorneys general wrote. In the process, H.R. 3035 also would
shift the cost of these calls such as debt collection and marketing
calls to consumers, placing a significant burden on low income
consumers. Furthermore, H.R. 3035 will create obstacles to
effective enforcement of state consumer protection laws. The bill
is currently under consideration in the U.S. House Committee on
Energy and Commerce. A hearing on the bill was held before the
Subcommittee on Communications and Technology last month.