ILR/CCMC/CTEC Support TCPA COVID-19 Relief Petition

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, along with its affiliated organizations, submitted comments to the Federal Communications Commission supporting a petition that seeks to classify certain COVID-19-related calls and texts from banks, credit unions, and other financial service providers as “calls made for emergency purposes” under the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA). This would allow these communications to be made without prior consent from recipients, provided they are intended to deliver time-sensitive, beneficial information related to the pandemic.

The Chamber emphasizes that such communications are crucial for informing consumers about healthcare resources, government notices, service changes, supply availability, and other urgent matters that help protect public health and safety. They argue that the FCC’s emergency exception should be expanded beyond hospitals and government officials to include businesses acting in good faith to keep customers informed and safe, especially as the pandemic has fundamentally disrupted business operations and consumer access to essential services.

Finally, the Chamber requests that the FCC narrowly tailor any relief to exclude advertising, telemarketing, or debt-collection calls, focusing only on informational messages that serve the public interest. If the FCC determines these calls do not qualify under the emergency exception, the Chamber urges a temporary waiver to allow businesses to communicate efficiently during the crisis, thereby reducing unnecessary exposure to COVID-19 and supporting consumer access to vital goods, services, and health care.