FCC exempts COVID-19 communications from prohibition on automated calls, text messages

The Federal Communications Commission March 20 issued a ruling confirming that the COVID-19 pandemic qualifies as an “emergency” under the Telephone Consumer Protection Act. Under this exception, hospitals, health care providers, state and local health officials, and other government officials may make automated calls and send automated text messages to wireless telephone numbers to communicate information about COVID-19, as well as mitigation measures without violating federal law. The TCPA, enacted in 1992 and subsequently updated by the FCC, is intended to restrict telemarketing calls and the use of automatic telephone dialing systems or prerecorded voice messages.