"This page is a digitally archived AccessInfo Announcement"
At the Commission’s Open Meeting on August 7, 2024, the FCC will vote to adopt a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) seeking comment on:
- the definition of AI-generated calls,
- requiring callers to disclose their use of AI-generated calls,
- supporting technologies that alert and protect consumers from unwanted and illegal AI robocalls, and
- protecting positive uses of AI to improve access to the telephone network for people with disabilities.
Specifically for people with disabilities, this item would propose that people with hearing and speech disabilities would be exempt from consent or identification requirements if these people with disabilities use an AI-generated voice to communicate during an outbound telephone call as long as the call does not contain any unsolicited advertisement. The item seeks comment on whether such an exemption would be subject to abuse by scammers. The item also seeks comment on whether there are other types of disabilities that should be included for the exemption. Finally, the item seeks comment on the FCC’s tentative decision not to establish a numerical limitation on the number of calls by people with disabilities utilizing AI-generated voices.
As an alternate to the proposed exemption, the item seeks comment on whether there is a way to define the terms “artificial or prerecorded voice” in a way that excludes technologies used by people with disabilities from the scope of the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) so an exemption is not necessary, and TCPA’s restrictions will not interfere with the ability of people with disabilities to use the telephone network.
Link to the FCC August Open Meeting Agenda:
URL: https://www.fcc.gov/document/fcc-announces-tentative-agenda-august-open-meeting-10
Link to the DRAFT AI Robocalls NPRM:
URL: https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DOC-404036A1.pdf
Link to the News Release:
URL: https://www.fcc.gov/document/chairwoman-proposes-first-their-kind-ai-generated-robocall-rules
The August 2024 Open Meeting is scheduled for 10:30 am ET on August 7, 2024 and will be held in the Commission Meeting Room, 45 L Street N.E., Washington, D.C 20554. The FCC meeting is also streamed live with open captioning at www.fcc.gov/live. Open captioning and sign language interpreting will be provided for this meeting. Other reasonable accommodations for people with disabilities are available upon request. In your request, please include a description of the needed accommodation and how you may be reached if we need more information. E-mail your request to fcc504@fcc.gov or call (202) 418-0530.
For general information about robocalls and robotexts, visit: https://www.fcc.gov/spoofed-robocalls. For specific information about the AI Robocalls NPRM, contact Richard D. Smith or Noah Cherry of the Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau, at Richard.Smith@fcc.gov or Noah.Cherry@fcc.gov respectively. Individuals who use videophones and are fluent in American Sign Language (ASL) may call the FCC’s ASL Consumer Support Line at (844) 432-2275 (videophone).