FCC Blocks Telecoms for Not Providing Robocall Mitigation Information

Robocalls are bad, mmmkay?

Earlier this month, the FCC issued an order cutting off over 150 telecommunications companies for issues with their plans to handle robocalls on their networks.

Here's some background information taken from the FCC's order.

Back in 2020, the FCC created the Robocall Mitigation Database.  Phone and Internet providers were to provide information on how they planned to combat robocalls on their networks in order to receive certification from the FCC.

In March 2023, the FCC increased the requirements for what had to be submitted, and all providers had to provide the relevant information by late February 2024. In December 2024, the companies that hadn't met the requirements were given a final chance to fix the issues or provide an explanation.

The FCC was looking for these things, among others:

1. Proof that calls originating on their networks were subject to some process to verify whether they are or are not robocalls.
2. A detailed explanation of each company's plan to mitigate any robocalls reported on their networks, either originating there or crossing the network.
3. Business information (name, address, contact information, parent/subsidiary companies, etc.)
4. A statement that each company and any affiliates haven't been investigated by the FCC or another law enforcement agency in connection with robocalling in the last two years.

The companies that have been blocked either didn't submit anything or what was submitted was incomplete or insufficient.

Are any of them responsible for the robocalls I've been getting?

I want to be clear, this doesn't mean that the now-blocked companies were being used for robocalls, just that they didn't provide enough (or any) information about what they were doing to combat them.

What does this all mean?

In any case, the result is that all other providers that are under the FCC's jurisdiction have now been ordered not to accept calls coming from the networks of the blocked companies.  I took a look at the list, and none of the names of the companies sound familiar, but that doesn't mean much.