There is no need to explain what robocalls are. We ALL know what they are and have been at least bothered, if not enraged, by them. The Federal Communications Commission has had enough too. Seven voice service providers not playing by the rules will be removed from the FCC database for robocallsif they don’t comply in 14 days.
Also read: 2FA and Recycled Phone Numbers Are a Security Risk
FCC’s Demands to Voice Service Providers
This is the type of action this annoyance needed, as it’s gotten completely out of hand. I don’t even bother to answer my home phone anymore. I watch the caller ID, and it’s almost always a sales call, survey, or other junk. The same numbers will call day after day. I don’t blame the people manning the phones, as they’re just trying to make a buck. It’s the companies they work for that are to blame.
But the FCC isn’t blaming the robocalls on the companies flooding our phones – it’s throwing blame on the voice service providers that haven’t done anything to stop the flood of robocalls.
“This is a new era. If a provider doesn’t meet its obligations under the law, it now faces expulsion from America’s phone networks. Fines alone aren’t enough. Providers that don’t follow our rules and make it easy to scan consumers will now face swift consequences,” said FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel.
The seven providers that were issued this ultimatum are Akabis, Cloud4, Global UC, Horizon Technology Group, Morse Communications, Sharon Telephone Company, and SW Arkansas Telecommunications and Technology.
They need to obey the rules or show the FCC why they should be exempt from the rules and stay on the database. If they are removed from the database, other providers will not be allowed to carry the offending companies’ traffic, meaning those robocalls will not reach their intended audience.
FCC STIR/SHAKEN
The FCC’s Robocall Response Team announced its STIR/SHAKEN protocols that were implemented to ensure trust in caller ID authentication standards. The acronym stands for the Secure Telephone Identity Revisited and Signature-based Handling of Asserted Information Using toKENs standards.
Spammers can spoof the system, so the FCC wants the providers to follow the protocols to improve the database so that the public will know the caller ID showing up on their phone is real.
After launching the robocalls database, the FCC required the providers to check in with their mitigation steps to stop the illegal robocalls from getting through. The seven providers in question have not provided the FCC with the necessary information to work on the mitigation or that they are exempt.
“If your network isn’t IP-based, so you cannot yet use these standards, we need to see the steps taken to mitigate illegal robocalls,” said Loyaan A. Egal, acting Chief of the Enforcement Bureau. “These providers have fallen woefully short and have now put at risk their continued participation in the U.S. communications system.”
This is all welcome information for the public who is tired of the robocalls. While the robocalls won’t immediately end tomorrow, it’s helpful to know that the FCC is working on it and that they’re serious about removing offenders to one day solve the issue.
An example of this abuse happened earlier this year when Verizon customers were getting hit with spam from their own numbers. It doesn’t take just Verizon to fix it; it takes all of the service providers.
Image credit: Unsplash
