Published: August 2019

The never-ending scourge of unwanted calls continues to plague Americans

As consumers continue to be overwhelmed with unwanted robocalls, advocates urge the Federal Communications Commission to go beyond its initial proposal and require phone companies to implement caller-ID authentication technology, opt-out tools for scam calls, and opt-in call-blocking tools for other unwanted calls.

In a follow-up letter to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regarding its robocall blocking proposal, consumer and privacy advocates further elaborate on the agency’s call blocking and the caller ID authentication system. The coalition clarified the following issues regarding the technologies and regulations involved in the Commission’s proposal:

• The critical calls list, comprising calls that never should be blocked, should be centralized and limited to government calls only, with only a limited number of carefully considered exceptions for additional genuine emergency numbers;
• Consumers should have personal whitelists as well, where they can maintain a list of blocked and unblocked calls and manage their own blocking and unblocking requests;
• The FCC should also establish a centralized system to manage unblocking emergency numbers and other unblocking requests; and
• Opt-out call-blocking should not be delayed pending full SHAKEN/STIR implementation.

Lead Organization

Consumer Reports

Other Organizations

Consumer Reports | National Consumer Law Center, on behalf of its low-income clients | Consumer Action | Consumer Federation of America | National Association of Consumer Advocates | Public Knowledge

More Information

For more information, please visit Consumer Reports.

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The never-ending scourge of unwanted calls continues to plague Americans   (Consumer_Group_Reply_Comments_CG_Docket_No._17-59_WC_Docket_No_._17-97_FINAL_.pdf)