Facebook v. Duguid held that the definition requires the capacity to use a random or sequential number generator to store or produce numbers. Equipment dialing from a curated list without that capacity falls outside the definition.
State statutes define the term more broadly.
Alternative Names:
ATDS|Autodialer
Why it Matters?
The narrowed federal definition eliminated most claims against modern platforms dialing from customer lists, which is how virtually all business calling operates, and remaining federal exposure concentrates on prerecorded voice and text claims that do not require an autodialer. State mini-TCPA statutes adopting broader definitions have absorbed some of the displaced litigation, which makes the state analysis necessary where calls reached those jurisdictions.
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Related terms
Frequently asked questions
What does the narrowed definition exclude?
Where has the litigation moved?
