The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) continues to get tougher on robocalls. On Tuesday, the agency fully rolled out the Robocall Mitigation Database -- an initiative that forces telephone companies to keep the agency updated on their robocall mitigation efforts.
The FCC has been relentless on robocalls for more than a year. Once the U.S. Senate passed the TRACED Act, the agency took measured steps to make sure all telecom providers got in line to adopt new policies that would not only stop the scourge of robocalls and caller ID spoofing but also ensure they are not the source of illegal calls.
“Protecting consumers from scammers that use robocall and spoofing tools is a top priority,” said FCC Acting Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel. “To succeed, we not only need an all-hands-on-deck response from government, but we need industry commitment and focus. Our message to providers is clear: certify under penalty of perjury the steps you are taking to stop illegal robocalls, or we will block your calls.”
Telecoms are slow to start
The FCC has offered some phone companies an extension so they can come into compliance with STIR/SHAKEN obligations and adopt robocall mitigation programs. However, the new line in the sand is only five months away.
According to the FCC’s public notice, by September 28, 2021, telecom providers will be prohibited from accepting calls directly from a voice service provider that attempts to send a call to residential or business subscribers in the U.S. if that voice service provider’s filing does not appear in the Robocall Mitigation Database.
The clock is ticking, but the uptake on adhering to the FCC’s mandates has been slow so far. When ConsumerAffairs examined the FCC’s new database, we were surprised that out of the 410 providers listed, only one -- Piratel (Los Alamitos CA) -- has completed the STIR/SHAKEN implementation to date.