Supreme Court Denies Certiorari in Case Challenging FTC Classification of Soundboard Technology

On April 15, 2019, the Supreme Court declined to grant certiorari to a case challenging a Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”) opinion designating “soundboard” calling technology as a form of robocall.

Soundboard technology, also referred to as avatar technology, allows call center agents to interact with consumers on a real-time basis by using recorded audio clips in combination with or in lieu of the agent’s own voice. In 2009, the FTC took the position that soundboard technology calls were not robocalls because they required the intervention of a live operator. In a 2016 Staff Opinion Letter, the FTC reversed its position and determined that using soundboard technology was the functional equivalent of placing a prerecorded message robocall.

The Soundboard Association, a trade group of companies that make and use soundboard technology, challenged the order in federal court. In the most recent decision, the D.C. Circuit allowed the FTC’s letter to stand. The Soundboard Association asked the U.S. Supreme Court to review that decision, but the Court declined to hear the matter.

As a result, the D.C. Circuit’s decision (and consequently, the FTC’s 2016 Letter) remain intact. Businesses should expect the FTC to treat soundboard technology as an artificial or prerecorded voice and should tailor their compliance practices accordingly. Retaining experienced counsel to evaluate your communications platforms can help prevent regulatory pitfalls and ensure your business’s compliance with applicable state and federal law.

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Mac Murray & Shuster (M&S) provides consumer protection regulatory compliance and defense counsel to businesses nationwide in highly regulated industries including teleservices, financial services, debt collection, healthcare, and charitable contributions. Led by former state regulators, including a former Ohio Attorney General, M&S helps clients thrive against a complex regulatory landscape through proactive compliance management and representation in litigation and other matters before state attorneys general and federal agencies including the FCC, FTC, and CFPB. Visit mslawgroup.com to learn more.

This article courtesy of Mac Murray & Shuster and written by Michele Shuster. The original article can be found on the mslawgroup.com TCPA Monitor blog.