Tom Zawistowski backs the political-call waiver as protection for grassroots speech
Tom ZawistowskiWe The People Convention president
Zawistowski backed the exemption, arguing that prior-consent rules make low-cost political outreach harder for small volunteer groups and that the waiver should apply regardless of viewpoint.
“We're asking the FCC to stand up for free political speech and for the small, volunteer-driven organizations that keep our democracy working.”
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 release announces reply comments supporting the petition and calls for the same relief for all noncommercial political speakers. The release cites call limits, caller identification and opt-outs as safeguards.
Before the quotation
The release announces reply comments supporting the petition and calls for the same relief for all noncommercial political speakers.
After the quotation
The release cites call limits, caller identification and opt-outs as safeguards.
How this statement is classified
The label describes this statement's response within the context above.
Why this label?
Relative to the proposed exemption, Zawistowski expressly supports granting it and argues that it would protect grassroots political speech.
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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
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
CDT opposes the political-call waiver and says its limits would not protect voters
Center for Democracy & Technology
“The Center for Democracy & Technology respectfully submits the following reply comment in opposition to the petition for expedited waiver filed by Club for Growth that would allow for calling parties to make noncommercial, political calls to wireless numbers using artificial or prerecorded voice, including AI-generated voice, without prior express consent.”Read statement
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- Tom Zawistowski backs the political-call waiver as protection for grassroots speech
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The Dispute Index. "Tom Zawistowski backs the political-call waiver as protection for grassroots speech". First published: 2026-10-21. Last updated: 2026-10-21. https://disputeindex.com/events/6315-zawistowski-backed-the-exemption-arguing-that-prior-consent