The Senate Commerce Committee advanced legislation sponsored by Senators James Beach and Nellie Pou that would prohibit telemarketers from failing to transmit the name of the telemarketer or the name of the seller on behalf of which the call is placed to any caller identification service.
“Consumers are inundated with calls from telemarketers seeking to conceal their identity by using blocked or altered phone numbers,” said Senator Beach. “This bill will help empower consumers to choose which calls they would like to answer by making it clear who is actually on the other end.”
The bill, S-1237, adds to efforts undertaken in past sessions, such as the “Seinfeld Bill”, to enhance consumer protection and give people more agency in their interactions with telemarketers.
“Expecting to know who is calling before you answer a phone call is not a burdensome expectation,” said Senator Nellie Pou (D-Bergen/Passaic), the Chair of the Senate Commerce Committee, “Unfortunately, telemarketers often try to hide this information from those whom they call. This legislation will allow people to better screen such calls, and give them more time talking to those they actually want to hear from.”
The bill was advanced in a 5-0 vote.