Griffo supports bill offering New Yorkers additional protections against robocalls

ALBANY – New York State Senate Deputy Minority Leader Joseph Griffo, R-I-C-Rome, announced today that he has continued his fight against robocalls by supporting legislation recently passed by the state Senate that provides New Yorkers with additional protections against intrusive phone calls.

As part of the bill (S3297), members of the public would have to provide their prior express consent to receive robocalls. This consent can be revoked at any time. The bill also prohibits fraudulent spoofing activity and authorizes strong enforcement action against those making these illegal calls.

The bill also requires that telephone service providers give consumers technology that can identify and block likely unwanted calls. This bill would require that this technology be made available free of charge to any consumer who requests it.

A companion bill in the state Assembly’s Corporations, Authorities and Commissions Committee.

Supporting this bill is the latest effort by Deputy Minority Griffo to alleviate the amount of unwanted phone calls that many New Yorkers receive on a daily basis. 

Earlier this month, he supported a bill (S4777) that requires that telemarketers making live sales calls notify customers that their number can be added to an entity specific do-not-call list. Telemarketers also would be prohibited from sharing a customer’s contact information if they do not obtain the customer’s consent to do so. The bill is currently in the state Assembly's Rules Committee.

Deputy Minority Leader Griffo also recently introduced a bill (S06018) requiring telecommunications companies provide free call mitigation technology to their customers in order to stop fraudulent "spoofing" calls. Companies failing to do so would face a $25,000 per day fine as a result of the bill, which is in the state Senate’s Energy and Telecommunications Committee.

Additionally, Deputy Minority Leader Griffo has previously sponsored legislation that would nearly double the fine applied to those who violate the Do Not call Registry.

“So many of us, myself included, have received robocalls, sales calls and telemarketing pitches at all hours of the day and night,” Deputy Minority Leader Griffo said. “These calls are a nuisance, a safety risk and an invasion of privacy. I will continue to do everything I can to address this issue and to provide much needed relief to residents so that they no longer have to suffer through a daily barrage of unwanted calls.  ”

###