HR6449-119

What This Bill Does

The bill amends section 227 of the Communications Act, the TCPA. A person who willfully and knowingly violates the section can be imprisoned for up to one year, fined under title 18, or both. The aggravated offense carries up to three years in prison plus fines when the person has a prior conviction, initiates more than 100000 calls in 24 hours, 1000000 calls in 30 days, or 10000000 calls in one year, uses calls to further a felony or conspiracy, or causes at least 5000 dollars in aggregate loss in one year. The bill defines covered calls to include autodialed or prerecorded telephone communications and certain autodialed text messages. It also changes spoofing penalties by replacing the existing 10000 dollar amount with 20000 dollars.

Who Benefits and How

Consumers receive stronger protection against illegal robocalls, autodialed texts, emergency-number abuse, and high-volume scam campaigns because criminal penalties and higher fines increase deterrence. Prosecutors and regulators gain clearer penalty tools for willful TCPA violations and aggravated robocall conduct.

Who Bears the Burden and How

Robocall operators, unlawful texters, and spoofing actors face imprisonment, criminal fines, higher civil penalties, and greater enforcement exposure. DOJ prosecutors, FCC enforcement staff, and courts must handle any new criminal cases, penalty decisions, and litigation created by the stronger penalty structure.

Key Provisions

• Adds a criminal penalty of up to one year imprisonment, title 18 fines, or both for willful and knowing TCPA violations.
• Creates an aggravated offense with up to three years imprisonment for prior convictions, very high call volumes, felony-linked calls, or 5000 dollars in annual losses.
• Defines covered calls to include autodialed or prerecorded telephone communications and certain autodialed mobile-phone texts.
• Amends spoofing penalty provisions by increasing specified civil fines from 10000 dollars to 20000 dollars.