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Representatives from federal regulatory agencies, various communications services providers and other telecom industry stakeholders gathered yesterday to discuss how organizations can effectively contact consumers without dropping calls or being added to robocall lists. NAFCU was the only financial services industry representative in attendance.

The conversation was arranged by the PACE Communication Protection Coalition and attended by NAFCU Regulatory Affairs Counsel Ann Kossachev. Kossachev said the goal of the meeting was to discuss the issues related to a lack of data on robocalls — both legitimate and illegitimate — and how stakeholders can work with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to crack down on illegal robocalls.

Under the current system of robocall reporting, consumers are missing out on calls they want and need to get, Kossachev said, but phone carriers believe creating a "white list" of good actors is too risky.

PACE plans to release a paper on best practices for eliminating illegal robocalls soon, and will host three additional meetings over the next year to discuss the issue.

In July 2015, the FCC released a declaratory ruling and order that provides limited robocall exemptions under the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) for financial institutions making free autodialed calls to consumers. NAFCU has repeatedly told the FCC that the order has led to financial institutions ceasing important communications with members about their accounts over fear of inadvertently violating the rule.

In September 2015, NAFCU entered a suit challenging the FCC's order on TCPA prohibitions on autodialed calls to account holders. Oral arguments were heard in the case last October in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit; the court could issue a decision at any time.