Media Contact: 
Will Wiquist
will.wiquist@fcc.gov

For Immediate Release

FCC CHAIRWOMAN AND ILLINOIS ATTORNEY GENERAL ANNOUNCE ROBOCALL ENFORCEMENT PARTNERSHIP
Agreement Helps Combine Efforts and Share Information to Defend Consumers
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WASHINGTON, February 17, 2023—FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel and Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul today announced a formal partnership to protect consumers against robocall scams.  To date, forty-four states have agreed to partnerships with the FCC’s Enforcement Bureau.  These Memoranda of Understanding between state and federal robocall investigators establish critical information sharing and cooperation structures to investigate spoofing and robocall scam campaigns.  

“Nobody likes robocalls. To get rid of these junk calls and the scams they foster, we need a hands-on, all-of-government approach,” said Chairwoman Rosenworcel.  “Partnerships like the one with Attorney General Raoul’s team are essential for helping prevent scammers from defrauding and harassing Illinois consumers.  State investigators bring special knowledge and legal tools to this fight and I look forward to working together on joint consumer protection efforts.”

“Robocalls are a consistent source of frustration for consumers, and my office has long worked to help people avoid losing time and money to unlawful robocalls,” Attorney General Kwame Raoul said. “My office is proud to continue working with the FCC and other states to share resources and information, which will allow us to better investigate and stop scammers that utilize the practice.”

The FCC’s Enforcement Bureau now has Memoranda of Understanding with robocall enforcers in forty-four states, as well as Guam and the District of Columbia.  In practice during investigations, both FCC and state investigators seek records, talk to witnesses, interview targets, examine consumer complaints, and take other critical steps to build a record against possible bad actors.  These partnerships can provide critical resources for building cases and preventing duplicative efforts in protecting consumers and businesses nationwide.  

The FCC offers partner states not only the expertise of its enforcement staff but also important resources to support state investigations.  For example, the MOUs may facilitate relationships with other actors in this space, including other federal agencies and robocall blocking companies, and support for and expertise with critical investigative tools including subpoenas and confidential response letters from suspected robocallers.

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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. Cir. 1974).