PHOENIX — Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes has joined a 28-state coalition supporting the FCC’s One-to-One Consent Rule, a regulation designed to reduce robocalls and protect consumers from scams and fraud.
In an amicus brief filed Monday, the coalition argued that the rule is vital for controlling the flood of unsolicited robocalls that target consumers daily. Mayes warned that robocalls are not just a nuisance but a gateway for fraudsterstrying to steal millions from Arizona families.
“It makes no sense to eliminate one of the only tools we have to stop these illegal calls before they reach our phones,” Mayes said.
What is the One-to-One Consent Rule?
Adopted in late 2023, the rule requires telemarketers and lead generators to get explicit consent from consumers before contacting them or selling their information. It also bans the practice of gathering blanket consent—which has led to endless unwanted calls—on behalf of multiple businesses.
Despite its consumer protections, the rule was vacated by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit, which ruled the FCC exceeded its authority.
Why It Matters for Arizona
Arizona ranks third in the nation for robocall complaints, with Phoenix and Tucson both landing in the top ten cities nationwide. In the past year, robocall complaints in the state jumped 10%, and Arizonans reported losing $145 million to fraud.
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) says consumers nationwide lost $1.2 billion in 2023 to scams linked to robocalls and text messages.
Attorney General Mayes, a member of the Anti-Robocall Litigation Task Force, has been aggressive in targeting companies responsible for illegal robocall traffic, including actions against Avid Telecom in 2023.
The coalition’s brief argues that the FCC’s rule is a necessary enforcement tool under the Telephone Consumer Protection Act to protect Americans from robocall abuse.
Joining Arizona are attorneys general from states including California, New York, Illinois, Michigan, and Virginia.
