Pignatelli, Kulik Team Up on Robo-Call Measure
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The Lenox Democrat and Kulik, who had announced his intention to tackle the matter about the same time, filed legislation on Thursday designed to curb the widespread use of the automated calls. The measure would give citizens the option of registering for a list similar to the Do Not Call Registry for telemarketers; it would also put limits on political robo-calling.
The push for limits comes on the heels of January's special election of U.S. Senate. Many people reported more than a dozen calls a day from both sides in the last week of the campaign. In North Adams on election day, a number of poll workers were comparing who had received calls from whom and how many they'd gotten. One exasperated voter had pleaded "if I vote will they stop calling?"
Pignatelli was prompted to look at the issue after receiving numerous complaints.
"I am pleased that we were able to draft such a comprehensive piece of legislation that will go a long way in restricting these obnoxious phone calls. With another campaign cycle approaching and the subsequent onslaught of robo-calls, it is time we did something to protect people's privacy," said Pignatelli in a statement. "I am heartened by the widespread bipartisan support we've gotten for this bill and I am looking forward to working with my colleagues to see this bill passed."
Kulik said the overuse of automated calls in the recent election "was intrusive and annoying."
"I am hopeful that the public backlash against robo-calls will help to move this bill through the Legislature, and allow people to exercise their right to privacy as they presently can under the Do Not Call List for commercial telemarketing calls," he said in a statement.
A number of states have limited robo-calling — automated dialing with a tape-recorded message — that have so far not been challenged on free speech grounds. The Federal Election Commission had been asked by a conservative political action group to rule on Minnesota's robo-call ban but dropped the request last month.
Under the measure, citizens could register their phone number with the Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation, which oversees the Do Not Call Registry.
Other provisions include that the call must be preceded by a live operator who must state on whose behalf they are calling, the purpose of the message and how long the message will be. The calls also would be prohibited between the hours of 8 p.m. and 8 a.m. local time of the recipient's location.
Several entities will be exempt from these provisions, including: messages from school districts to students, parents or employees; messages to subscribers with whom the caller has maintained or had a business relationship; messages advising employees of work schedules; messages on behalf of correctional facilities advising victims, and messages on behalf of municipal governments and state agencies.
Pignatelli said last week that he hoped to have the bill enacted in time for the upcoming midterm elections in November.
