Federal Communications Commission DA 19-74 DA 19-74 Released: February 12, 2019 CONSUMER AND GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS BUREAU SEEKS COMMENT ON PETITION FOR EXPEDITED DECLARATORY RULING BY NORTHSTAR ALARM SERVICES, LLC CG Docket No. 02-278 Comment Date: March 15, 2019 Reply Comment Date: March 29, 2019 With this Public Notice, we seek comment on a petition for declaratory ruling filed by NorthStar Alarm Services, LLC. Petition for Expedited Declaratory Ruling filed by NorthStar Alarm Services, LLC (filed Jan. 2, 2018), https://ecfsapi.fcc.gov/file/10103290733918/NorthStar%20FCC%20Petition.pdf (Petition). Specifically, the Petition asks for clarification that “calls using recorded audio clips specifically selected and presented by a human operator in real-time, a tool generally referred to as ‘soundboard technology,’ do not deliver a ‘prerecorded message’ under the Telephone Consumer Protection Act” (TCPA). Petition at 1. The TCPA is codified at 47 U.S.C. § 227. The Commission’s implementing rules are codified at 47 C.F.R. § 64.1200. Among other things, the TCPA and/or the related rules prohibit any call to a residential telephone line using an artificial or prerecorded voice to deliver a message without the prior express consent of the called party, unless the call: is for emergency purposes; is not made for a commercial purpose; is made for a commercial purpose but does not include transmission of any unsolicited advertisement or constitute telemarketing; is made by or on behalf of a tax-exempt nonprofit organization; delivers a “health care” message as described in the rule; or is made solely to collect a debt owed to or guaranteed by the United States. 47 U.S.C. § 227(b)(1)(B); 47 CFR § 64.1200(a)(3). The TCPA and the rules also prohibit, without the prior express consent of the called party, a non-emergency call using an automatic telephone dialing system or an artificial or prerecorded voice to any telephone number assigned to a cellular telephone service. 47 U.S.C. § 227(b)(1)(A)(iii); 47 CFR § 64.1200(a)(1)(iii). We seek comment on this and any other issues raised in the Petition. Filing Requirements. Interested parties may file comments on or before the date indicated on the first page of this document. 47 CFR § 1.2. All filings must reference CG Docket No. 02-278. Comments may be filed using the Commission’s Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS). See Electronic Filing of Documents in Rulemaking Proceedings, 63 FR 24121 (1998). · Electronic Filers: Comments may be filed electronically using the Internet by accessing ECFS: https://www.fcc.gov/ecfs/. · Paper Filers: Parties who choose to file by paper must file an original and one copy of each filing. · Filings can be sent by hand or messenger delivery, by commercial overnight courier, or by first-class or overnight U.S. Postal Service mail. All filings must be addressed to the Commission’s Secretary, Office of the Secretary, Federal Communications Commission. o All hand-delivered or messenger-delivered paper filings for the Commission’s Secretary must be delivered to FCC Headquarters at 445 12th Street, SW, Room TW-A325, Washington, DC 20554. The filing hours are 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. All hand deliveries must be held together with rubber bands or fasteners. Any envelopes and boxes must be disposed of before entering the building. o Commercial overnight mail (other than U.S. Postal Service Express Mail and Priority Mail) must be sent to 9050 Junction Drive, Annapolis Junction, MD 20701. o U.S. Postal Service first-class, Express, and Priority mail must be addressed to 445 12th Street, SW, Washington DC 20554. Ex Parte Rules. The proceeding this Notice initiates shall be treated as a “permit-but-disclose” proceeding in accordance with the Commission’s ex parte rules. 47 CFR §§ 1.1200 et seq. Persons making ex parte presentations must file a copy of any written presentation or a memorandum summarizing any oral presentation within two business days after the presentation (unless a different deadline applicable to the Sunshine period applies). Persons making oral ex parte presentations are reminded that memoranda summarizing the presentation must (1) list all persons attending or otherwise participating in the meeting at which the ex parte presentation was made, and (2) summarize all data presented and arguments made during the presentation. If the presentation consisted in whole or in part of the presentation of data or arguments already reflected in the presenter’s written comments, memoranda or other filings in the proceeding, the presenter may provide citations to such data or arguments in his or her prior comments, memoranda, or other filings (specifying the relevant page and/or paragraph numbers where such data or arguments can be found) in lieu of summarizing them in the memorandum. Documents shown or given to Commission staff during ex parte meetings are deemed to be written ex parte presentations and must be filed consistent with rule 1.1206(b). In proceedings governed by rule 1.49(f) or for which the Commission has made available a method of electronic filing, written ex parte presentations and memoranda summarizing oral ex parte presentations, and all attachments thereto, must be filed through the electronic comment filing system available for that proceeding, and must be filed in their native format (e.g., .doc, .xml, .ppt, searchable .pdf). Participants in this proceeding should familiarize themselves with the Commission’s ex parte rules. People with Disabilities. To request materials in accessible formats for people with disabilities (Braille, large print, electronic files, audio format), send an e-mail to fcc504@fcc.gov or call the Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau at 202-418-0530 (voice), 844-432-2275 (videophone), or 202-418-0432 (TTY). Additional Information. For further information regarding this Notice, please contact Josh Zeldis, Consumer Policy Division, Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau, at 202-418-0715 or by e-mail to Josh.Zeldis@fcc.gov. – FCC– 2