FCC Getting Rid of Voice Providers from Robocall Database!

Telecoms Face Punishment for Failing to Adopt Anti-Robocall Measures

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in the US is cracking down on voice service providers that are lagging behind in implementing anti-robocall measures. The FCC has announced its intention to remove seven providers from its Robocall Mitigation Database for failing to meet required anti-spam efforts, such as implementing STIR/SHAKEN call authentication to prevent spoofing. Companies like Akabis, Cloud4, Global UC, Horizon Technology, Morse Communications, Sharon Telephone, and SW Arkansas have 14 days to provide reasons why they should not be removed. Failure to do so will result in their customers being blocked from making calls, effectively shutting down their voice businesses.

STIR/SHAKEN Requirement and Compliance

The FCC set a deadline for all carriers to adopt STIR/SHAKEN by the end of June 2021. While major carriers like AT&T and Verizon quickly embraced the technology, smaller providers were given extensions as long as they outlined their plans to combat robocalls. Despite warnings from the FCC, the seven companies in question did not share their anti-robocall strategies, leading to their impending removal from the database.

Impact of FCC’s Actions

Although the removal of these providers may not significantly decrease the number of spam calls, the FCC’s actions, along with efforts from state attorneys general, are expected to discourage telecoms from neglecting anti-robocall defenses or engaging in fraudulent activities. By enforcing compliance with anti-spam measures, the FCC aims to safeguard consumers from the annoyance and potential harm caused by spam calls.