UPDATE, January 10, 2025: This week, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) announced the adoption of stricter robocall mitigation database filing requirements, as proposed in a December Report and Order.
The FCC reported that 47 Attorneys General wrote to the commission, in November, to support strong regulatory actions to strengthen the FCC’s database rules.
The announcement said, “All voice service and intermediate providers must file a certification in the Robocall Mitigation Database to demonstrate their level of STIR/SHAKEN implementation, describe their robocall mitigation plans, and provide other required information the Commission uses to monitor compliance with our rules.”
Original Story Follows: December 11, 2024
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) took action on three announcements today in the fight against nuisance and illegal robocalls.
The first piece of news was that the FCC Enforcement Bureau said that 2,411 voice service providers have failed to comply with Robocalls Migration Database (RMD).
The RMD certifies the status of their STIR/SHAKEN implementation and robocall mitigation efforts. Other providers must block traffic from providers not appearing in the RMD. The companies named must show why they should not be removed. If removed, other providers will not be allowed to accept calls from them. It was the largest such action taken by the FCC.
The second action was the circulation of a Report and Order with proposed new rules to tighten filing requirements for the RMD. This is an effort by the FCC to drive compliance and heighten awareness of providers’ responsibilities to protect consumers against robocalls and other scams.
The rulemaking would institute base fines of $10,000 for submission of false or inaccurate information and $1,000 for failure to maintain current information, require providers to recertify annually, and pay a $100 filing fee.
The press release said it also would direct the Wireline Competition Bureau to establish a reporting mechanism for shared oversight among stakeholders, issue additional guidance and “best practices” for filers, and establish two-factor authentication protocols for access to the database.
Finally, the FCC stated that the Anti-Robocall Multistate Litigation Task Force Action representing 51 attorneys general said it had resolved investigations of several voice service providers that have been transmitting suspected illegal robocall traffic on one or more of their customers.
The Task Force issued notices to these providers, informing them that the Task Force has shared the results of its investigations with the FCC. Though comprehensive results were not included in the press release, it did say that several were included in today’s FCC enforcement action.
The FCC’s efforts to upgrade the Robocall Mitigation Database are ongoing. In August, the FCC unanimously passed an Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that, according to FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel, would make the RMD “more accurate, effective, and secure.”
Last month, the FCC issued a Report and Order aimed at strengthening rules governing use of third parties in the STIR/SHAKEN framework.
