H.R. 6449: Deter Obnoxious, Nefarious, and Outrageous Telephone Calls Act of 2025

This bill, titled the "Deter Obnoxious, Nefarious, and Outrageous Telephone Calls Act of 2025," aims to amend the Telephone Consumer Protection Act of 1991 by introducing new penalties for violations related to unwanted telephone communications.

Key Provisions of the Bill

• Criminal Penalties: The bill establishes new criminal penalties for willful and knowing violations of the Telephone Consumer Protection Act, which could result in up to one year of imprisonment, a fine, or both. For aggravated offenses, which could include high volumes of calls or intent to commit another felony, the penalties could increase to three years in prison.
• Definition of Calls: The term "call" is broadly defined to include any communication sent through an automatic dialing system, including text messages sent without recipient consent.
• Increased Fines: The bill doubles the penalties for providing inaccurate caller identification information. Violations could result in fines of up to $20,000, compared to the previous limit of $10,000.
• Clarifications: The law clarifies the definitions related to telephone communications and the penalties applicable to different types of violations, including impersonation and excessive messaging.

Intent and Impact

The primary intent of this legislation is to strengthen protections for consumers against unwanted and potentially harmful communication practices, including robocalls and deceptive caller ID practices. By increasing penalties, the bill aims to deter such behaviors by telecommunications companies and individuals who engage in these practices.

Relevant Companies

None found