S. 3370: Deter Obnoxious, Nefarious, and Outrageous Telephone Calls Act of 2025

This bill, known as the "Deter Obnoxious, Nefarious, and Outrageous Telephone Calls Act of 2025" or the "DO NOT Call Act," aims to enhance the penalties for violators of the Telephone Consumer Protection Act of 1993. The key points of the bill are as follows:

1. Criminal Penalties for Violations

The bill proposes to amend the Communications Act of 1934 to introduce criminal penalties for individuals or entities that deliberately and knowingly violate specific provisions of the act. The penalties are outlined as follows:

• A person found in violation can face imprisonment for a maximum of 1 year and may be fined under Title 18 of the United States Code, or both.
• If the violation is considered aggravated, the penalties increase significantly:
  • Up to 3 years of imprisonment and fines, if the violator has previous convictions under this section.
  • If the violation involves a large number of calls, specifically:
    • More than 100,000 calls in a 24-hour period,
    • More than 1,000,000 calls in a 30-day period, or
    • More than 10,000,000 calls in a 1-year period.
  • If the violation is committed with the intent to further a felony or conspiracy to commit a felony.
  • If the violation leads to a loss of $5,000 or more to one or more persons within a year.

2. Definitions of Violations

The bill clarifies what constitutes a "call" for the purpose of these penalties. This includes:

• Any message sent to a North American Numbering Plan number, particularly via an automatic dialing system or using an artificial or prerecorded voice.
• Text messages sent to mobile phones using an automatic dialing system without prior consent from the recipient.

3. Increased Penalties for Inaccurate Caller Identification

The bill also seeks to increase the fines associated with the provision of inaccurate caller ID information. It proposes to double the existing fines:

• The penalty for such violations would increase from $10,000 to $20,000.

4. Technical Amendments

The bill includes provisions to make technical corrections, updating references to ensure consistency within the law.

5. Overall Goals

The overarching goal of the bill is to deter unwanted telephone calls, particularly those that are deemed obnoxious, nefarious, or outrageous. By increasing penalties for violations, the legislature aims to protect consumers from invasive telemarketing practices and improve the overall quality of communication.

Relevant Companies

• None found