The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has adopted new rules that would make it more difficult for Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) providers to obtain direct access to US phone numbers. The move is aimed at curbing the rampant use of VoIP technology by robocallers who often spoof their caller ID and bombard US residents with unwanted and illegal calls.
VoIP Providers Must Meet New Requirements
Under the new rules, VoIP providers who want to access US phone numbers directly from the numbering administrator must meet certain requirements that were previously not enforced. These include:
- Making robocall-related certifications to help ensure compliance with the FCC’s rules targeting illegal robocalls.
- Disclosing and keeping current information about their ownership, including foreign ownership, to mitigate the risk of providing bad actors abroad with access to US numbering resources.
- Obtaining authorization from the FCC before obtaining direct access to US phone numbers if they have more than 10 percent foreign ownership.
The new rules will take effect 30 days after they are published in the Federal Register.
FCC Chairwoman: New Rules Will Make Life Harder for Robocallers
FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel said that the new rules will close a loophole that was exploited by robocallers who used VoIP technology to easily access US phone numbers and spoof their caller ID.
“It was eight years ago that this agency decided to allow interconnected VoIP providers to obtain telephone numbers directly from our numbering administrator. Before that, they could only get numbers by making a request through a traditional carrier,” Rosenworcel said in a statement. “Too often the providers picking up these numbers en masse are the same folks using VoIP technology to facilitate robocalls. So in the interest of curbing these bad actors, we are adopting new guardrails. We are putting conditions on direct access to numbering resources to make sure we do not hand out numbers to perpetrators of illegal robocalls. This will safeguard our numbering resources, make life harder for those who want to send us junk calls and a little easier for all of us who don’t like getting them.”
Robocalls Remain a Major Nuisance for US Consumers
According to the FCC, robocalls are the number one consumer complaint it receives. In 2020, the agency received more than 240,000 complaints about unwanted calls, and estimated that Americans received nearly 46 billion robocalls. Robocalls can be not only annoying, but also harmful, as they often try to scam consumers out of their money or personal information.
The FCC has taken various actions to combat robocalls, such as requiring large voice providers to implement the STIR/SHAKEN caller ID authentication technology, issuing record fines against robocallers, and allowing phone companies to block unwanted calls by default.
However, robocalls remain a persistent problem, as robocallers constantly adapt to new technologies and regulations. The FCC said it will continue to work with other agencies, industry groups, and consumer advocates to protect Americans from unwanted and illegal robocalls.
