As
we previously reported, section 301(b) of the Bipartisan Budget
Act of 2015 permits an exception to the Telephone Consumer
Protection Act of 1991 for calls and text messages "made
solely to collect a debt owed to or guaranteed by the United
States." The TCPA generally prohibits calls made and
text messages sent utilizing artificial or prerecorded voices to
any telephone line, without the prior express consent of the called
party, or calls using automatic telephone dialing systems
("ATDS") to wireless telephone numbers.
The 2015 bill amended the TCPA to allow the use of an ATDS and
prerecorded messages for calls and text messages "made solely
to collect a debt owed to or guaranteed by the United States."
The Federal Communications Commission was tasked with
implementing the revised statute by August 2, 2016, and also was
given the ability "to restrict or limit the number and
duration of calls" made to wireless telephone numbers
utilizing the new exception.
