FCC Releases Order Clarifying TCPA

Last Friday, July 10, 2015, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) released Declaratory Ruling and Order 15-72 ("Order 15-72") to address more than 20 requests for clarity on FCC interpretations of the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA). The release of Order 15-72 follows a June 18th open meeting at which the FCC adopted the rulings now reflected in Order 15-72 that are intended to "close loopholes and strengthen consumer protections already on the books."

Keys rulings in Order 15-72 include:

• Confirming that text messages are "calls" subject to the TCPA;
• Clarifying that consumers may revoke their consent to receive robocalls (i.e., telemarketing calls or text messages from an automated system or with a prerecorded or artificial voice) "at any time and through any reasonable means";