Chuck Schumer urges the FCC to retain consent requirements for political calls
Chuck SchumerU.S. senator from New York and Senate Democratic leader
Schumer urged the FCC to deny the political-call exemption, arguing that call limits and opt-outs would not undo a deceptive first call.
“The approaching election is a reason to preserve safeguards, not suspend them. The Commission should deny the requested relief and retain prior express consent.”
Official statement
Where this statement fits
Should political callers be allowed to make prerecorded and AI-voice calls to cellphones without prior consent?
On August 31, 2026, the advocacy group Club for Growth asked the Federal Communications Commission to let callers make noncommercial political calls to cellphones with an artificial or prerecorded voice, including an AI-generated voice, without the recipient's prior consent, subject to call limits and an opt-out. The FCC's Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau sought public comment on September 4, with replies due October 19, 15 days before the November 3 midterm elections. In early October, FCC Commissioner Anna Gomez, Common Cause and Tim Harper of the Center for Democracy and Technology argued that dropping consent so close to the election would open voters to unwanted or deceptive AI calls. In a statement published by NBC10 on October 8, Club for Growth said the calls are not robocalls and that political speech deserves the treatment the FCC already gives wireless calls about package deliveries and bank accounts. The dispute is over whether the FCC should exempt political prerecorded and AI-voice calls to cellphones from the prior consent requirement.
Source and context
Official statement
About this source
The letter discusses cloned voices, false endorsements and voting instructions, and the petition's proposed limits. Schumer says his objection applies to every party and advocacy group and calls for fuller review of any broader changes.
Before the quotation
The letter discusses cloned voices, false endorsements and voting instructions, and the petition's proposed limits.
After the quotation
Schumer says his objection applies to every party and advocacy group and calls for fuller review of any broader changes.
How this statement is classified
The label describes this statement's response within the context above.
Why this label?
Relative to the proposed exemption, Schumer expressly opposes removing prior consent and asks the FCC to deny the request.
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More from this case
Read the full caseAnna Gomez opposes the political-call waiver on privacy grounds
“I know that they should not do this because we want to preserve consumers' privacy. And this is a privacy issue.”Read statement
Tom Zawistowski backs the political-call waiver as protection for grassroots speech
“We're asking the FCC to stand up for free political speech and for the small, volunteer-driven organizations that keep our democracy working.”Read statement
Joe Kane says the political-call waiver would weaken protections and risk legal challenge
“Because the petition would weaken consumer protections while creating significant constitutional risks, the Commission should deny it.”Read statement
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- Chuck Schumer urges the FCC to retain consent requirements for political calls
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The Dispute Index. "Chuck Schumer urges the FCC to retain consent requirements for political calls". First published: 2026-10-21. Last updated: 2026-10-21. https://disputeindex.com/events/6311-schumer-urged-the-fcc-to-deny-the-political