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NEWS
Federal Communications Commission

News Media Information 202 / 418-0500

445 12th Street, S.W.

Internet: http://www.fcc.gov

Washington, D. C.  20554

TTY: 1-888-835-5322

This is an unofficial announcement of Commission action.  Release of the full text of a Commission order constitutes official action.
See MCI v. FCC. 515 F 2d 385 (D.C. Circ 1974).

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

NEWS MEDIA CONTACT:

October 17, 2012
Mike Snyder, 202-418-0997
E-mail:  Michael.Snyder@fcc.gov

FCC ADOPTS RULES TO PROTECT EMERGENCY SERVICE PROVIDERS FROM 

UNWANTED ROBOCALLS 

Washington, D.C. – The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) today took steps to protect 
emergency service providers from unwanted robocalls that can tie up their phone lines.  Consistent with 
the requirements of the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012, the Commission has 
adopted rules establishing a specialized Do-Not-Call registry for Public Safety Answering Points (PSAPs) 
and prohibiting the use of robocalling equipment to contact registered PSAP phone numbers other than 
for an emergency purpose.  PSAPs are typically 9-1-1 call centers that receive emergency calls and route 
them to emergency service personnel.  By some estimates, hundreds or even thousands of unwanted 
robocalls are made to PSAPs each day, tying up public safety phone lines and diverting critical first 
responder resources away from the provision of emergency services.  
Specifically, the new rules: 
·
Allow PSAPs to upload any number associated with the provision of emergency services or 
communications with other public safety agencies onto a specialized Do-Not-Call registry; 
·
Prohibit operators of  robocalling equipment from using such equipment to contact any number 
on the registry except for an emergency purpose; and
·
Adopt specific monetary penalties, as required by the Tax Relief Act, for contacting or disclosing 
numbers contained in the PSAP registry.  Specifically, in the case of violations of the requirement 
prohibiting disclosure or dissemination of registered numbers, the Tax Relief Act provides for 
monetary penalties of not less than $100,000 per incident nor more than $1,000,000 per incident.  
For violations of the prohibition on robocalling numbers on the registry, the Tax Relief Act 
provides for monetary penalties that are not less than $10,000 per call or text nor more than 
$100,000 per call or text.
The rules also address concerns voiced by the public safety community in comments to the FCC about the 
potential problems unwanted texts to PSAPs may pose in the future.
Following today’s action to establish the PSAP Do-Not-Call registry, Commission staff will continue to 
work on the registry’s operational details.  Once this work is complete, the Consumer and Governmental 
Affairs Bureau will release a Public Notice announcing the specific operational details, including the 
effective date for compliance with the new rules.  The Commission intends to work with public safety 
organizations to ensure that PSAPs are made aware of the opportunity to place their phone numbers on 
the registry, and with robocalling equipment operators to inform them about the new requirements. 
Action by the Commission October 17, 2012, by Report and Order (FCC 12-129)  Chairman 
Genachowski, Commissioners McDowell, Clyburn, Rosenworcel and Pai.   Separate statements issued by 
Chairman Genachowski, Commissioners McDowell, Clyburn, Rosenworcel and Pai.
CGB Contact:  Richard D. Smith (717-338-2797; Richard.Smith@fcc.gov).

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