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Cover the Call: Coverage for Violations of the TCPA

By John N. Ellison and Timothy P. Law
March 29, 2006

The Telephone Consumer Protection Act ('TCPA'), 42 U.S.C. '227, was enacted to protect the privacy of individuals and businesses that were being inundated with unwanted faxes. The TCPA makes it unlawful 'to use any telephone facsimile machine, computer or other device to send an unsolicited advertisement to a telephone facsimile machine.' The statute expressly declares that its intent is to protect 'privacy rights.' 42 U.S.C. '227(b)(2)
(B)(ii)(I).

The term 'unsolicited advertisement' is defined as 'any material advertising the commercial availability or quality of any property, goods, or services which is transmitted to any person without that person's prior express invitation or permission, in writing or otherwise.' 42 U.S.C. '227(a)(5). The TCPA imposes damages of $500 for each violation, which can be trebled if the defendant willfully or knowingly violated the statute.

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