Sponsors (4)
The bill reduces disruptive automated calls to federal numbers and modernizes prohibited-call rules—improving agency responsiveness for the public—at the cost of disrupting third-party notification services, creating transition expenses for agencies, and raising compliance uncertainty for vendors.
Federal employees and agency call-handling staff will receive fewer automated repetitive calls, reducing workplace disruption and improving staff capacity to handle public inquiries.
Members of the public (taxpayers) will have improved telephone access to federal agencies—shorter wait times and fewer blocked lines—when automated call traffic to agency numbers is reduced.
Regulators, agencies, and callers gain clearer, modernized rules under the Communications Act that explicitly cover newer automated systems that both call repeatedly and exchange information, aiding enforcement and compliance in the long run.
Government contractors and third-party service providers that operate automated call platforms will be barred from using those platforms to contact federal numbers, disrupting legitimate outreach, notifications, and business operations.
Federal agencies that rely on vendor-run automated notifications (for example, appointment reminders) may need to replace systems or bring services in-house, creating transition and implementation costs borne by agencies and taxpayers.
Private callers and vendors may face compliance uncertainty about which technologies qualify under the prohibition, increasing the risk of litigation, enforcement disputes, and legal costs for affected firms.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Makes it unlawful for automated equipment operated by a third party to make repeated, interactive calls to phone numbers assigned to federal departments or agencies.
Introduced March 26, 2026 by Chris Pappas · Last progress March 26, 2026
Prohibits the use of automated equipment to place repeated, interactive calls to telephone numbers assigned to federal departments or agencies when the equipment is operated by anyone other than the person or entity whose information is being provided or received. The change adds this specific prohibition to the Communications Act’s existing rule against unlawful calls, extending the law to cover automated systems that both make repeated calls and can send and receive information with federal numbers.