ERIK PAULSEN MEMBER OF CONGRESS 3RD D ISTRICT OF M INNESOTA D EPUTY WHIP November 15, 2017 Ajit Pai Chairman CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES WASHINGTON , 0.C. , 20515 Federal Communications Commission 445 Twelfth Street, SW, Room 8-C453 Washington, DC 20554-0004 Dear Chairman Pai: COMMITTEE O N WAYS AND MEANS SUBCOMMITTEE ON H EALTH SUBCOMMITTEE ON T RADE I am writing to you about the Telephone Consumer Protection Act and the statement of Commissioner Michael O'Rielly relative to the Declaratory Ruling (FCC 16-72). Commissioner O'Rielly wrote he supports the relief provided in the Ruling which exempts most calls made by or on behalf of the federal government, including tele-town halls. He was frustrated, however, that Commission leadership left unanswered whether state or local agencies would be subject to TCP A lawsuits. Commissioner O'Rielly was correct in writing that such arbitrary line drawing leaves state and local governments, and the people they serve, exposed to predatory TCP A lawsuits that divert tax dollars away from serving the public. In Minnesota as well as other states, there are local governments and the citizens they serve that would benefit if such governments were exempt like the federal government is. I urge the Commission to re-visit this ruling and exempt state and local governments frorp the TCP A including autodialed and prerecorded calls. Thank you for your assistance in this matter. ~ Erik Paulsen Member of Congress EP/mc 1 2 7 CANNO N H OUSE 0 FFJCE B U ILD I NG, W AS HI NGTON, DC 2 0515 • 202-22 5 -2871 DI S T R ICT O FFICE: 2 5 0 P RAIR I E C E NTER D R IVE, S UITE 230, E DEN P RAIRI E , MN 55 3 44 • 9 5 2-405- 851 0 www.Paulsen.house.gov