Editor’s Warning: You can’t unsee this thing. Click with care. Viewing guide follows at the end of this article.
Well folks, it has all led up to this and you are going to love this thing.
With all the videoconferencing we’ve been doing during the COVID19 pandemic–and without access to our sophisticated podcast studios–it was only natural that we’d try our hand at a VIDEO version of the Unprecedented podcast, made possible through the wonders of webex.
Without question this turned out to be the best version of the podcast yet. This episode has it all: goofy hats (nice clickbait picture right?), witty banter, a critical breakdowns of the TCPA SCOTUS review, the big new Second Circuit ruling on ATDS (Duran v. LaBoom), the FCC’s implementation of TRACED Act requirements, and the FCC’s action around COVID19 calls. Plus Sara announces her new TCPAWorld nickname and we tease a NON-PUBLIC FCC petition that will literally changed the TCPAWorld.
Jammed packed.
But most importantly, of course, we deliver our highly-anticipated interview with Patrick Halley, Sr. V.P. at U.S. Telecom–one of the most powerful trade organizations on the planet– that represents dozens of telecom players in the United States. US Telecom, in turn, created and runs the Industry Traceback Group–using tips from companies like YouMail and Nomorobo to identify scam calls and then implement traceback efforts to identify the point of entry for those calls into the US carrier networks. Its a tremendous program that has shown incredible success at getting to the real root of the robocall problem–the overseas call centers running the terrible scam calls we all detest.
Patrick Halley
In the incredible VIDEO interview–brought to you via Squire Patton Boggs POWERVision ™ at the 19:25 mark– Patrick walks us through how the traceback effort works and the brick-by-brick steps necessary to identify the source of scam calls. He also discusses the huge pressure on carriers to BLOCK calls–including potentially legal calls–and the steps legitimate callers can take to make sure their traffic is not improperly blocked or labeled as a scam.
We also discuss the murky limits of regulation impacting carriers and the strange and sudden shift in expectations that has some carriers feeling like they have been unfairly tasked with policing traffic on their network at their own peril. Historically carriers were never deemed to be responsible for illegal phone calls passing over their lines, but these days there is increasing governmental pressure on carriers to shut down illegal calls–even though no law or regulation appears to require carriers to act. Nonetheless, the DOJ and state AGs are now increasingly pursuing cases against carriers as “participants” in wire fraud rings for knowingly connecting fraudulent traffic–and using the work of the Industry Traceback Group to make their case.
But no interview with Patrick would be complete without a discussion of carrier call blocking efforts and what callers can do TODAY to increase their chances of having their traffic get through. To be sure Patrick and I discuss redress mechanisms to allow callers to have their concerns over blocked calls heard by the carriers short of litigation–we shouldn’t have to file a lawsuit to get calls connected–and the protections the carriers are seeking for improperly blocked calls.
It all makes for a fascinating overview of the regulatory state of the telecom industry that you simply can’t get anywhere else. TCPAWorld.com and Squire Patton Boggs are pleased and proud to provide this important and informative content.
To assist your navigation through the video, here’s your TCPAWorld.com Unprecedented podcast viewing guide (never thought I’d say that):
- From the start to about the 4:02 mark I introduce myself and my diverse and talented cast;
- At the 3:38 mark Sara Borgijiandeclares herself the “Baroness” of the TCPAWorld;
- At the 4:02 mark I brag about TCPAWorld for a while;
- At the 4:45 mark the Grand Duchess breaks down the big Supreme Court review of the TCPA;
- At the 6:50 mark I gave the official prediction of TCPAWorld.com on the outcome of the SCOTUS review (boy am I going to regret doing that if I’m wrong);
- At the 7:52 mark the Archduke breaks down the huge ATDS ruling out of the Second Circuit Court of Appeal–ignore the incorrect graphic stating it is a 7th Cir. case– in Duran v. LaBoom Disco;
- At the 10:15 mark I start talking but the camera awkwardly stays on the Archduke for about a solid minute for no reason. (Thanks webex);
- At the 11:04 mark you get to see the Baroness all dressed up for the ball— brace yourselves folks this is worth the price of admission;
- At the 11:20 mark the Baroness breaks down the FCC’s recent activity around the emergency purposes exemption in light of the Covid19 pandemic;
- At the 15:30 mark I declare this video podcast to be “easily” the greatest thing ever created by a law firm;
- At 15:37 the Baron begins his breakdown ofall the big FCC activity surrounding the implementation of the TRACED Act;
- At 18:20 the Baron and I tease a new soon-to-be-filed FCC petition that we aren’t allowed to talk about yet (who do I do these things?);
- At 19:25 we turn to Squire Patton Boggs POWERVision (TM) for our big interview with U.S. Telecom S.V.P. Patrick Halley;
- At some point in the interview I declare him to be “batman”–(send me an e-mail identifying the mark and I’ll send you a prize–once COVID lets us back into our offices);
- At 1:03 we begin our post-interview breakdown (Yes–the interview with Patrick runs 40 informative minutes!)
- At 1:06:21 the Apprenticemakes a cameo on the podcast–where’d he come from?
- At 1:10:12 I close the show with my patented sign off.
So what’d ya think? Do you like the new video format? Did we strike the right balance of informative and entertaining? We want your feedback so we can improve our offerings and future shows.
Chat soon.