The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has decided that state and local government contractors, along with local governments, are considered "persons" under the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) and must follow its rules. This means they must obtain consent before making certain automated or prerecorded calls. However, state governments themselves, when conducting official business, are not considered "persons" and are therefore exempt. The FCC's ruling aims to clarify who must comply with TCPA restrictions and protect consumer privacy while allowing necessary exceptions, such as emergency calls during situations like the COVID-19 pandemic.
Simple Explanation
The government decided that when a local town or city, or someone working for them, wants to call people with a machine or recorded message, they have to ask for permission first. But if a state government is calling, they don't need to ask because they're special.