Interpreting the Telephone Consumer Protection Act, the Federal Communications Commission on Thursday issued a ruling addressing robocalls made to cell phones. The FCC's ruling provide: • Service providers can offer robocall-blocking technologies to consumers and implement market-based solutions that consumers can use to stop unwanted robocalls. • Consumers have the right to revoke their consent […]
Author Archives: Allison Zieve
The Washington Post reports today: Major upgrades are coming to a federal aid program that helps low-income Americans connect to basic communications services. The Federal Communications Commission voted Thursday to consider how to allow eligible Americans to purchase Internet access using government funds, in a move that recognizes high-speed Internet as a key to pulling the poor out […]
Alleging that auto loan company Security National Automotive Acceptance Company misled servicemembers about the consequences of nonpayment, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau yesterday filed suit against the company in federal court in Ohio. The CFPB alleges that the company used a combination of illegal threats and deceptive claims to collect debts. The suit seeks compensation […]
The Federal Communications Commission plans to fine AT&T Mobility $100,000,000 for misleading its customers about unlimited mobile data plans. The FCC’s investigation alleges that AT&T severely slowed down the data speeds for customers with unlimited data plans and that the company failed to adequately notify its customers that they could receive speeds slower than the […]
The Washington Post reports today: [I]n an effort to get a fuller understanding of side effects of certain medicines, the FDA is partnering with a networking forum called PatientsLikeMe, which allows people with the same disease or condition to connect with others and share their experiences. The site, among the largest of its kind, has more than 350,000 […]
A New York Times editorial yesterday encouraged that the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau use its enforcement powers to put an end to abusive car loans. The editorial begins: Auto loans have long been a bastion of predatory lending and racial discrimination. Until the federal Consumer Financial Protection Bureau was established, auto lending by banks was […]
The Federal Communications Commission has warned PayPal that PayPal's new terms of service might violate the Telephone Consumer Protection Act. Under the new terms, which go into effect in July, PayPal customers would be deemed to have consented to receiving robocalls and texts from PayPal on any phone number. The Hill has the story.
The Hill reports: Health groups are petitioning the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to ban eight synthetic flavors in food that are known carcinogens. The petition, led by the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), said the flavors, which have been used for over 40 years, are found in ice cream, candy, baked goods and beverages. […]
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has published a rule allowing the agency to supervise larger nonbank auto finance companies. The CFPB press release is here. The rule is here. The CFPB also released the examination procedures that examiners will use to ensure that auto finance companies are following the law. The examination procedures are here.
The agencies' joint press release explains: Section 342 of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010 (Dodd-Frank Act) required the Federal Reserve Board, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the National Credit Union Administration, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, and the Securities and Exchange […]