On August 4, 2016, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) released a declaratory ruling clarifying the scope of the Telephone Consumer Protection Act’s (TCPA) consent requirements to send robocalls and automated text messages to wireless phone numbers.  The ruling was in response to Blackboard, Inc.’s request that the FCC declare “all automated informational messages sent by an educational organization” as within the scope of the TCPA’s “emergency purpose” exception.  While the FCC granted Blackboard’s request in part, it also expanded its ruling to address automated messages provided by utilities.