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NCUA Chairman Rodney Hood sent a letter to Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Ajit Pai regarding the NAFCU-sought, joint trade group petition to permit certain automated calls to fall under the Emergency Purposes Exception of the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA). NAFCU continues to urge the FCC to expeditiously finalize its declaratory ruling to allow financial institutions to contact consumers on matters related to the coronavirus pandemic during the national emergency.

“The NCUA has supported and encouraged federally insured credit unions in their efforts to provide credit union members with prudent debt relief and help members understand the range of relief possibilities,” Hood wrote in the letter sent earlier this month. “Autodialed calls providing information about payment deferrals, fee waivers, loan term extensions, other loan modifications, and forbearance could assist consumers during this challenging time.”

NAFCU joined with several other financial services trade associations in March to petition the FCC for an expedited declaratory ruling, clarification or waiver to except informational calls related to the coronavirus pandemic from the consent requirements under the TCPA.

NAFCU separately followed up on the petition with a letter to the FCC last month stressing that "[t]his is an extant emergency, and information from credit unions and other financial institutions are a first step to resolving that threat to the economic security of our nation and its consumers."

CFPB Director Kathy Kraninger, in response to the trades' petition, has also urged the FCC to expedite its ruling in order to maximize outreach to consumers about the financial assistance available amid the pandemic.

NAFCU has repeatedly shared concerns about credit unions' legitimate calls being erroneously blocked and has actively worked with the FCC on efforts to modernize the TCPA for several years.