Artificial or prerecorded voice (Telephone Consumer Protection Act)
A federal telemarketing phrase covering calls that play a recording or use a synthetic voice rather than a live person speaking.
Use this definition in team training or when clarifying a sales note.
Definition
The Telephone Consumer Protection Act, the federal law on telephone marketing, treats calls that use an artificial or prerecorded voice differently from calls made by a live person. Many such calls to mobile and residential numbers need the called person’s prior express consent, and marketing calls need prior express written consent under the FCC’s rules in 47 CFR 64.1200. Rules and interpretations in this area continue to change.
In February 2024 the Federal Communications Commission ruled that voices generated by artificial intelligence are artificial voices under the law (FCC 24-17), which matters for any team considering outbound calls placed by an agent. This is general information, not legal advice, and a team should have counsel review its calling practices.
Why it matters
Outbound calling is where automation meets the strictest rules a sales team works under, and the exposure sits with the company making the calls rather than with whoever supplied the software. Before any agent places calls, get clear answers on consent records, disclosure, do-not-call handling and quiet hours, and get them from your own counsel rather than from a sales conversation.