Robocall Enforcement Actions and State Telemarketing Laws
Regulators have escalated robocall enforcement (a 2021 FCC $225 million record fine for ~1 billion robocalls; a 2019 multistate initiative). Because federal rules do not preempt state law, most states impose extra requirements - over half require licensing or registration.
In 2019, state AGs and telephone companies launched an anti-robocall initiative with nearly 100 enforcement actions; a dozen large carriers pledged free call-blocking tools to all 50 state AGs and D.C. In 2021 the FCC issued a record $225 million fine against telemarketers behind roughly one billion robocalls.
Because neither the TSR nor FCC rules preempt state law, most states have enacted telemarketing laws. More than half require telemarketers to obtain a license or register with the state. States may run their own DNC lists, require identification at the start of a call or termination without rebuttal on request, and require written contracts for certain transactions.