ACA International is “a not-for-profit trade association for professional businesses and individuals in the credit and collection industry.” Earlier this year, in July, the Federal Communications Commissions issued a Declaratory Ruling and Order on the TCPA (Telephone Consumer Protection Act). What the TCPA does is restrict telephone soliciting and the use of automated telephone equipment. ACA petitioned against the FCC’s ruling, along with others, by filing a lawsuit and is pleased to announce that many trade groups and other diverse parties are supporting their petition. The issue ACA International, and others, are concerned with is the legalicy of the FCC’s ruling; they feel as if the FCC is only targeting abusive telemarketers, not taking into consideration those who are professional, respectable, and who are only interested in benefiting the customers they reach out to.
Those in support of ACA International are referred to as amici, or “friends of the court” in appellate court, where the case of ACA International, et al. v. Federal Communications Commission and United States is being heard. These supporters are being used as apart of the appeals process, as they are very vital to the case. In fact, seventeen agencies filed as amici in eight separate amicus groups and are as follows:
- American Bankers Association
- Credit Union National Association
- The Independent Community Bankers of America
- Retail Litigation Center, Inc.
- National Retail Federation
- National Restaurant Association
- CTIA – The Wireless Association
- Internet Association
- American Gas Association
- Edison Electric Institute
- National Association of Water Companies
- National Rural Electric Cooperative Association
- Communication Innovators
- American Financial Services Association
- Consumer Mortgage Coalition
- Mortgage Bankers Association
- The National Association of Chain Drug Stores, Inc.
A joint legal brief was filed by nine businesses made the decision of becoming parties to the appellate process due to the affect TCPA has on them. This party consists of these nine businesses:
- MRS BPO LLC
- Cavalry Portfolio Services, LLC
- Diversified Consultants, Inc.
- Mercantile Adjustment Bureau, LLC
- Council of American Survey Research Organizations
- Marketing Research Association
- National Association of Federal Credit Unions
- Conifer Revenue Cycle Solutions, LLC
- Gerzhom, Inc.
The assertion of this joint legal brief is that the ACA’s petition be reviewed, as well as others petitioning against the FCC’s ruling; they are also challenging parts of the TCPA. Together, 26 businesses have filed in court to support ACA International, and those petitioning alike, in their lawsuit against the FCC and in that, have formed a very diverse and strong group of supporters.