As part of its ongoing effort to stem the rise in illegal robocalls, the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is now exploring options to block robocalls along every point in the call path.
In a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) issued in late October, the Commission is proposing rule changes that would require service providers to give consumers accurate caller names and other information to minimize the challenge of evaluating calls originating from unknown sources. Additional changes would require originating providers to verify that the caller’s name and other identification information are accurate and secure, thereby supporting consumer trust and confidence.
The NRPM also details potential steps to reduce the number of scam calls originating from outside the U.S., including advanced call blocking analytics, so that consumers can identify when a call is originating from a foreign country.
The FCC’s latest proposal is intended to build on the STIR/SHAKEN caller ID authentication framework, developed by industry to support the goals of the federal Truth in Caller ID Act of 2009.
The Commission’s NPRM in connection with robocalls is available at https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/FCC-25-76A1.pdf.
Comments on the FCC’s proposal can be filed until late November through its Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS) at http://apps.fcc.gov/ecfs (reference Docket CG Docket No. 17-59).
