FCC Proposes New Rules to Protect Consumers From Illegal Robocalls, To Include a Safe Harbor for Blocked Calls that Fail Caller ID Authentication

July 2, 2019

The Federal Communications Commission (“FCC” or “Commission”) has released a Declaratory Ruling and Third Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on June 7, 2019 in an attempt to further protect consumers from illegal, including spoofed, robocalls. (Docket Nos. CG 17-59 and WC 17-97) The FCC clarifies that voice service providers may utilize “reasonable analytics” to identify and block robocalls on a default basis. At the same time, the FCC is proposing to adopt a rule mandating the implementation (for those voice providers who have not already voluntarily done so) of the industry’s SHAKEN/STIR Caller ID authentication and protections for critical calls, including calls to Public Safety Answer Points (“PSAPs”)…