Executive Summary of Recent FCC Actions on Voice and Text Call Filtering

In response to rising levels of illegal robocalls and spam messages, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has enacted new rules to allow voice and text providers to take stronger action in blocking suspicious or potentially unlawful communications. These measures are aimed at protecting consumers from scams, spam, and unwanted calls or messages, while allowing legitimate communications to continue unimpeded.

Key actions include:

1. Empowering Carriers to Block Suspicious Traffic: All voice service providers in the call path are now allowed to block calls based on a “do-not-originate” (DNO) list, which includes numbers likely to be associated with illegal activity (e.g., unallocated or unused numbers). This extends previous blocking permissions granted only to gateway providers.
2. Immediate Notification for Blocked Calls: Carriers must notify callers if their calls are blocked based on analytics, using a standard Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) code. This notification allows businesses to understand when and why their calls are blocked, providing an opportunity for redress if the blocking is in error.
3. Enhanced Blocking for Text Messages: Originating mobile providers are required to block illegal text messages when notified by the FCC. Additionally, providers must now offer email-to-text services on an opt-in basis to minimize spam.
4. New Enforcement and Compliance Rules: Providers are expected to adopt robust measures to prevent illegal robocalls and to know their customers, with penalties for providers who fail to block illegal calls after FCC notification.

These rules represent the FCC’s ongoing efforts to balance robust consumer protection with support for legitimate business communications. By establishing clear guidelines and empowering providers to act against fraudulent communications, the FCC aims to restore trust in the communication networks used by consumers and businesses alike.