Attorney General William Tong of Connecticut led a coalition of 51 attorneys general to urge the FCC to expand anti-robocall protections by requiring all telephone providers to implement STIR/SHAKEN caller ID authentication and other measures to prevent illegal and fraudulent robocalls.
In-house legal teams should review all vendor and carrier agreements with telecommunications service providers, particularly those involving voice call routing and origination. Focus on clauses requiring compliance with FCC robocall regulations, implementation of STIR/SHAKEN caller ID authentication, and obligations to filter or block fraudulent calls. Pay special attention to provisions regarding gateway and intermediate providers, as the coalition emphasizes their role in preventing foreign scam traffic. Contracts may need amendments to mandate specific anti-robocall technologies, require regular reporting on call traffic and spoofing attempts, include audit rights to verify compliance, and strengthen indemnification terms for liabilities arising from illegal robocalls facilitated by the provider.
Entity
FCC
Industry
TelecommunicationsOfficial Press Release
https://portal.ct.gov/ag/press-releases/2022-press-releases/attorney-general-tong-leads-call-to-fcc-to-expand-anti-robocall-protections
reply comments from 51 ags re intermediate providerscg 1759
https://portal.ct.gov/-/media/ag/press_releases/2022/reply-comments-from-51-ags-re-intermediate-providerscg-1759-and-wc-1797-sept-2022.pdf?rev=bcd530b7b9dd40d39485405b8d29ba6b&hash=6107C7032F151599CA3DB1821029F714
Connecticut Attorney General Enforcement Page
https://portal.ct.gov/AG/Privacy/Privacy-Resources
$625K
Connecticut reached a $625,000 settlement with Frontier Communications Parent Inc. over an April 2024 breach in which compromised employee and vendor credentials were used to access internal systems and exfiltrate unencrypted personal information of 58,841 Connecticut residents. The settlement requires Frontier to strengthen its security program, implement specific safeguards and training, and obtain an independent third-party assessment.
$2.6M
Connecticut and New York found that Boston Children’s Health Physicians and its security vendor, XTIUM, failed to use reasonable safeguards, resulting in hackers accessing sensitive personal, medical, and employee information. The companies agreed to pay penalties totaling $2.64 million and implement enhanced cybersecurity measures.
Connecticut joined a coalition of state attorneys general filing a notice in Character Technologies, Inc.’s bankruptcy proceedings, raising concerns about the company’s safety and privacy practices and the sensitive information it holds. The states seek protections for children and consumers if the company’s business or assets are sold or transferred; the filing does not impose a fine or other remedy.
Attorney General William Tong and Consumer Counsel Claire Coleman petitioned PURA to review how Connecticut public utilities use artificial intelligence, citing potential data privacy and cybersecurity risks, algorithmic errors, and misleading outputs. The petition asks PURA to examine utility AI systems, safeguards, vendors, and data security practices; it does not report a finding of violation or an imposed penalty.
$2.0M
Connecticut Attorney General William Tong announced a settlement with RZ Smoke, Inc. over allegations that it distributed and sold high-potency cannabis products without a state license. The stipulated judgment is $2 million, with $375,000 payable to the State and $1.6 million suspended to ensure compliance; the company is barred from specified cannabis activities in Connecticut unless licensed.
$13.7M
Connecticut joined a coalition of states and the federal government in settling allegations that Takeda paid healthcare providers speaker honoraria and provided meals to induce prescriptions of Trintellix, leading to allegedly false claims to government healthcare programs. Takeda agreed to pay $13,670,921 plus accrued interest, with portions allocated to federal and state programs.