Avid Telecom

'''Avid Telecom''' is an American telecommunications company providing VoIP services, including facilitating robocalling by telemarketers. The company was established in 2000 and is based in Arizona.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Brodkin |first=Jon |date=2023-05-24 |title=48 states sue phone company that allegedly catered to needs of robocallers |url=https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2023/05/48-states-sue-phone-company-that-allegedly-catered-to-needs-of-robocallers/ |access-date=2023-05-26 |website=Ars Technica |language=en-us}}</ref>

== Legal challenges == In 2023, it was reported that 48 U.S. states and the District of Columbia were suing Avid Telecom in relation to robocalling, with Alaska and South Dakota being the only states not participating.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-05-23 |title=Do not call: States sue telecom company over billions of robocalls |url=https://apnews.com/article/robocall-lawsuit-do-not-call-75e26f66a3f6e3145c18c62f5e164a12 |access-date=2023-05-26 |website=AP NEWS |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Gregg |first=Aaron |date=2023-05-24 |title=Telecom company sued by nearly every state over billions of robocalls |language=en-US |newspaper=Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2023/05/24/avid-telecom-robocalls-lawsuit/ |access-date=2023-05-26 |issn=0190-8286}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Gagosz |first=Alexa |title=48 states, D.C. file lawsuit against Avid Telecom over billions of illegal robocalls - The Boston Globe |url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/2023/05/23/metro/48-states-dc-file-lawsuit-against-avid-telecom-over-billions-illegal-robocalls/ |access-date=2023-05-27 |website=BostonGlobe.com |language=en-US}}</ref> Named in the lawsuits are owner and CEO Michael Lansky as well as VP of Sales and Operations, Stacey Reeves. <ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-06-07 |title=FCC: Notice of Suspected Illegal Robocall Traffic|url=https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DOC-394134A1.pdf |access-date=2025-09-07}}</ref>

It is alleged that Avid Telecom is selling data, phone numbers, dialing software, and advice to its customers, helping them route illegal mass robocalls across the United States.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Olaniran |first=Christian |date=2023-05-23 |title=Maryland sues Avid Telecom over alleged robocall scheme |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/baltimore/news/maryland-sues-avid-telecom-over-alleged-robocall-scheme/ |access-date=2023-05-26 |website=www.cbsnews.com |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Ash |first=Sarah |date=2023-05-23 |title=Delaware AG announces lawsuit against VoIP service provider over billions of illegal robocalls |url=https://www.wmdt.com/2023/05/delaware-ag-announces-lawsuit-against-voip-service-provider-over-billions-of-illegal-robocalls/ |access-date=2023-05-26 |website=47abc |language=en-US}}</ref> From 2018 to 2023, it is alleged that Avid Telecom sent or attempted to send 24.5 billion calls.<ref name=":0" /> Based on data from the National Do Not Call Registry, the complainants allege that the company transmitted more than 7.5 billion calls that were spoofed or had invalid caller ID numbers.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Braun |first=Michael |date=2023-05-24 |title=Florida in suit vs. Avid Telecom over billions of illegal robocalls |url=https://news.wgcu.org/government-politics/2023-05-24/florida-in-suit-vs-avid-telecom-over-billions-of-illegal-robocalls |access-date=2023-05-26 |website=WGCU PBS & NPR for Southwest Florida |language=en}}</ref> The company has stated that it will defend itself "vigorously" against the states' allegations.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Feiner |first=Lauren |date=2023-05-23 |title=Nearly 50 state AGs sue company that allegedly facilitated billions of spam calls |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2023/05/23/avid-telecom-facilitated-billions-of-spam-calls-state-ags-allege.html |access-date=2023-05-26 |website=CNBC |language=en}}</ref>

Additionally, Attorneys General are suing Avid owner Michael Lansky and his company Michael D. Lansky, LLC. Lansky was warned 329 times about spam calls by telecom industry led Traceback Group, who advises providers about illegal robocalls sent via their networks, yet Lansky continued allowing robocalls in alleged violation of TCPA <ref>{{Cite web|date=2023-05-23 |title=Attorney General Neronha sues telemarketer Avid Telecom over illegal robocalls |url=https://riag.ri.gov/press-releases/attorney-general-neronha-sues-telemarketer-avid-telecom-over-illegal-robocalls |access-date=2023-06-14 |website=Rhode Island Attorney General|language=en}}</ref>

In May 2024, Avid's motion to dismiss was denied.<ref>[https://www.michigan.gov/ag/-/media/Project/Websites/AG/releases/2024/May/64---Order-DENYING-Defs-Dispositive-MTD-and-Stay-Refer.pdf Case 4:23-cv-00233-CKJ], 2024-05-08.</ref>

== References == {{reflist}}

Category:Telecommunications companies of the United States Category:VoIP companies of the United States