Privacy & Cybersecurity Law Blog

On May 19, 2014, the Federal Communications Commission announced that Sprint Corporation agreed to pay $7.5 million to settle an FCC Enforcement Bureau investigation stemming from allegations that the company failed to honor consumers’ requests to opt out of telemarketing calls and texts. Sprint also agreed to implement a two-year plan to help ensure future compliance with Do-Not-Call registry rules.

The terms of the FCC’s Consent Decree require the company to:

• develop a compliance plan designed to help ensure future compliance with the FCC’s rules requiring companies to maintain internal Do-Not-Call lists and honor consumers’ requests;
• designate a Compliance Officer; and
• implement a training program for employees and contractors on recording Do-Not-Call requests so that the company removes those customers’ names and numbers from marketing lists.

The National Do-Not-Call Registry was established in 2003. Consumers may register their phone numbers to opt out of receiving most telemarketing calls.