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119-s-1025119th CongressWALLET

FCC Legal Enforcement Act

Sponsored By: Senator Luján, Ben Ray [D-NM]

Introduced

Summary

Authorizes the FCC to sue in its own name to recover unpaid forfeiture penalties for violations of telephone equipment and unwanted-call rules. It would also require the agency to prioritize very large penalties and add an explicit subscriber-protection phrase to the unwanted-call standard.

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  • Subscribers and families: Inserts the phrase "as necessary in the judgment of the Commission to protect subscribers from unwanted calls" into the unwanted-call rule, clarifying a consumer-protection focus.
  • The FCC and enforcement: Would let the FCC commence and supervise litigation to recover unpaid forfeitures if the Department of Justice does not file a case within 120 days of a referral. It also directs the FCC to prioritize unpaid penalties that exceed $25.0 million.
  • Businesses that violate telemarketing rules: Entities found in violation of section 227 face more direct FCC-led enforcement and potential prosecutions to recover penalties.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

2 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.

Stronger legal standard to block robocalls

If enacted, the bill would let the FCC set limits on automated and prerecorded calls "as necessary in the judgment of the Commission to protect subscribers from unwanted calls." This would clarify that the agency can adopt rules it deems needed to protect phone subscribers from robocalls and unwanted automated calls.

FCC can sue to collect big fines

If enacted, the FCC would be able to file and supervise lawsuits in its own name to recover unpaid fines for unlawful automated calls when the Justice Department does not start a case within 120 days after a referral. The 120-day period would begin on the date of the Commission's referral. The FCC would be able to use attorneys it designates to bring the litigation and any appeals. The Commission would also be required to give priority to unpaid fines over $25,000,000 when applying these recovery rules.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Luján, Ben Ray [D-NM]

NM • D

Cosponsors

  • Sen. Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT]

    CT • D

    Sponsored 3/13/2025

  • Sen. Welch, Peter [D-VT]

    VT • D

    Sponsored 3/13/2025

  • Sen. Schatz, Brian [D-HI]

    HI • D

    Sponsored 3/13/2025

  • Sen. Durbin, Richard J. [D-IL]

    IL • D

    Sponsored 3/13/2025

  • Sen. Klobuchar, Amy [D-MN]

    MN • D

    Sponsored 3/13/2025

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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