The Federal Communications Commission, earlier this month, adopted new rules that will help stem the tide of foreign-based robocalls that attempt to scam Americans. The FCC has made combatting unlawful robocalls and malicious caller ID spoofing a top consumer protection priority. They aim to enforce strong enforcement actions to protect and empower consumers.
The new rules require the companies that allow foreign calls into the United States to participate in robocall mitigation, including blocking efforts, taking responsibility for illegal robocall campaigns on their networks, cooperating with FCC enforcement efforts, and quickly responding to efforts that help trace illegal robocalls to their source, according to the Alaska Department of Law.
Non-compliance could result in being removed from the Robocall Mitigation Database and mandatory blocking by other network participants which, essentially, will end their ability to operate. The new rules will complement other FCC efforts to eliminate avenues for robocallers.
Alaska Attorney General Treg Taylor:
“These protective measures adopted by the FCC will help ensure that our citizens are no longer being harassed and scammed by oversea con artists tapping into our phone networks. I am pleased that I was able to work with my fellow attorneys general to encourage the FCC to take these measures that will protect hard working Americans from the bombardment of these robocalls.”
According to the FCC, U.S. consumers received nearly 4 billion robocalls per month in 2020 and these calls are cause for major concern among Americans, as scam calls in particular can result in financial losses and consumer frustration.
Attorney General Taylor and a group of attorneys general urged the FCC to put these protective measures in place.