The National Association of Federally-Insured Credit Unions’ (NAFCU) Executive Vice President of Government Affairs and General Counsel Carrie Hunt released the following statement after the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) voted to pass a declaratory ruling that allows voice service providers to automatically block suspected robocalls unless a consumer opts out. The ruling could also block legitimate businesses, including credit unions, from contacting their members
“We remain disappointed that the FCC crafted this new, far-ranging policy without the opportunity for public feedback,” said Carrie Hunt, NAFCU Executive Vice President of Government Affairs and General Counsel. “While the FCC’s inclusion of language requiring phone companies to allow legitimate businesses to challenge erroneously blocked calls is a positive step, necessary and time-sensitive calls and texts would still be significantly delayed or prevented entirely as a result of this policy. In the event of fraud or a data breach, consumers could be left in the dark for days, exposing their financial accounts to increased risks and theft.”
We encourage the FCC and Congress to revisit the issue; it is imperative policy distinguishes between important consumer communications and illegal robocalls.”