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S. 3335Senate117th Congress (2021-2023)In Committee

Robocall Trace Back Enhancement Act

Sponsored by John ThuneSen. John Thune (R-SD)
Introduced December 8, 2021

AI-Generated Summary

Updated February 8, 2026 at 8:29 AM UTC

The Robocall Trace Back Enhancement Act gives legal protection to a registered consortium and voice service providers that share information about suspected fraudulent, abusive, illegal, or spoofed robocalls. It defines the types of data that can be shared, such as call detail records and identifying details about the callers and carriers. The bill also lets the FCC or the consortium publish a list of carriers that refuse to help trace these calls or that are found to originate many illegal calls, and permits enforcement based on that information. This affects the consortium, telephone carriers, and any entities involved in tracing and reporting illegal robocalls.

Key Provisions

  • Adds immunity for the consortium and any carrier that receives, shares, or publishes "covered information" about suspected illegal robocalls, preventing lawsuits over that activity.
  • Defines "covered information" to include call detail records, carrier identifiers, and contact details of entities that made the calls.
  • Specifies that the immunity only applies to the act of sharing covered information, not other actions.
  • Allows the FCC or the consortium, after consulting the FCC, to publish a list of voice service providers that refuse to cooperate with trace‑back efforts or that generate substantial unlawful robocalls.
  • Authorizes the FCC to take enforcement action against providers identified in the published list.

Legislative Activity

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1 earlier action
SenateIntro Referral Latest Action

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. (text: CR S9047-9048)

Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee

December 8, 2021

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SenateIntro Referral

Introduced in Senate

December 8, 2021

SenateIntro Referral

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. (text: CR S9047-9048)

Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee

December 8, 2021

Floor Debate

2 members

What members said about S. 3335 on the floor

1 Republican1 Democrat
Alex Padilla
Sen. Alex PadillaD-CA · Dec 8, 2021

Mr. President, I rise to speak in support of the Revitalizing Small and Local Businesses Act, which I introduced today. Even before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, historic underinvestment in…

Record
John Thune
Sen. John ThuneR-SD · Dec 8, 2021

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.

Record
John Thune
Sen. John ThuneR-SD · Dec 8, 2021

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.

Record

Bill Text

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Introduced in SenateIssued December 8, 2021

II

117th CONGRESS

1st Session

S. 3335

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

December 8, 2021

Mr. Thune (for himself and Mr. Markey) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation

A BILL

To provide liability protection for the sharing of information regarding suspected fraudulent, abusive, or unlawful robocalls, illegally spoofed calls, and other illegal calls by or with the registered consortium that conducts private-led efforts to trace back the origin of suspected unlawful robocalls, and for the receipt of such information by that registered consortium, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Robocall Trace Back Enhancement Act.

2.

Registered consortium conducting private-led efforts to trace back the origin of suspected unlawful robocalls

(a)

Immunity for receiving, sharing, and publishing trace back information

Section 13(d) of the Pallone-Thune Telephone Robocall Abuse Criminal Enforcement and Deterrence Act (Public Law 116–105; 133 Stat. 3287) is amended by adding at the end the following:

(3)

Immunity for receiving, sharing, and publishing trace back information

(A)

Definition

In this paragraph, the term covered information—

(i)

means information regarding suspected—

(I)

fraudulent, abusive, or unlawful robocalls;

(II)

illegally spoofed calls; and

(III)

other illegal calls; and

(ii)

includes—

(I)

call detail records of calls described in clause (i);

(II)

the names of, and other identifying information concerning, the voice service providers that originated, carried, routed, and transmitted calls described in clause (i); and

(III)

information about the entities that made calls described in clause (i), including any contact information of individuals that such an entity provided to the voice service provider that originated the call.

(B)

Trace back immunity

No cause of action shall lie or be maintained in any court against—

(i)

the registered consortium for receiving, sharing, or publishing covered information or information derived from covered information; or

(ii)

any voice service provider or other person or entity for sharing covered information with the registered consortium.

(C)

Rule of construction

Nothing in subparagraph (B)(ii) shall be construed to provide immunity for any act other than the act of sharing covered information with the registered consortium.

.

(b)

Publication of list of voice service providers

Section 13(e) of the Pallone-Thune Telephone Robocall Abuse Criminal Enforcement and Deterrence Act (Public Law 116–105; 133 Stat. 3287) is amended to read as follows:

(e)

List of voice service providers

(1)

Publication of list

The Commission, or the registered consortium in consultation with the Commission, may publish a list of voice service providers based on—

(A)

information obtained by the consortium about voice service providers that refuse to participate in private-led efforts to trace back the origin of suspected unlawful robocalls; and

(B)

other information the Commission or the consortium may collect about voice service providers that are found to originate or transmit substantial amounts of unlawful robocalls.

(2)

Enforcement

The Commission may take enforcement action based on the information described in paragraph (1).

.