U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto has introduced legislation to toughen penalties for violations of the Telephone Consumer Protection Act.
The bill is meant to deter illegal robocalls, which she says are a nuisance and have scammed Americans out of billions of dollars.
The Do Not Call Act of 2018 aims to improve enforcement and enhance penalties for violations. Initiating a robocall without consent of an individual is outlawed under the TCPA, which permits the FCC to issue fines and for victims to pursue civil action in court.
In a statement, Cortez Masto said violators often set up shell companies designed to evade monetary fines and technology makes it easier to do so.
They are frequently used to defraud vulnerable populations such as the elderly. If passed, the bill would create a penalty specific to violations of the TCPA that can include up to one year in prison.