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A House Energy and Commerce subcommittee will hold a hearing this morning on legislation regarding robocalls. Scheduled to start at 10:00 a.m. Eastern, the committee will examine a number of bills that have been introduced in the 116th Congress intending to combat the onslaught of robocalls.

Ahead of today's hearing, NAFCU Vice President of Legislative Affairs Brad Thaler shared the association's work with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and outlined concerns regarding the need for a broad definition of autodialer with Subcommittee Chairman Michael Doyle, D-Pa., and Ranking Member Robert Latta, R-Ohio.

Thaler specifically voiced concerns on H.R. 946, writing, "the 'Stopping Bad Robocalls Act,' includes a definition of 'robocall' that greatly expands the TCPA’s definition of  'autodialer' and would effectively sweep in and place limitations on a very broad set of communications and call dialing equipment than previously contemplated."

Thaler went on to urge the Subcommittee to modernize the TCPA to combat illegal robocalls, while also protecting credit unions’ ability to freely communicate with their members on important issues related to their existing accounts. 

The association also joined with a coalition of trade groups yesterday to voice additional concerns to the subcommittee ahead of today’s hearing.

NAFCU is also analyzing a recent Fourth Court Appeals decision that determined TCPA exemptions for government-backed debt is unconstitutional under the First Amendment. The association continues to work with the FCC on efforts to modernize the TCPA, and has previously shared its concerns related to the definition of an autodialer and the need for clarity under the TCPA to ensure credit unions can contact their members without fear of breaking the law.

The association is monitoring a number of other hearings today; read more here.