Phone companies have until Sept. 28 to tell FCC how they are reducing robocalls

Robocalls — we’ve all gotten them and they can be annoying!

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) had previously launched new technology for phone carriers to cut down on those calls like identifying if a call could be a spam risk.

But not every company is using it, or it hasn’t been implemented fully across some companies’ networks.

From the IRS to Amazon, Tennessean Jackie Sykes said he’s gotten every spam call you can imagine.

“I’d say somewhere between 70 to 90 calls a day,” he said.

Even his own number was spoofed.

“The scam company had used my number to call him and threatened his family over several things that I knew nothing about. I had never met the man or made the phone call,” said Sykes.

The FCC launched a new Robocall Mitigation Database back in April for phone carriers to explain if they’re using federal caller ID technology on robocalls.

A new watchdog report from U.S. PIRG shows that months later, only a third of providers has completely implemented the technology, another third has partially done it and the remaining third hasn’t responded or are using other methods to reduce robocalls.

However, time is ticking and companies must comply by September 28.

“If any company hasn’t at least told the FCC, what they’re doing to reduce robocalls, then you’re done. Other providers are prohibited, prohibited from completing your phone calls. It’s not maybe it’s not pretty pleased. It’s you’re done,” said consumer watchdog Teresa Murray, who wrote the report.

The Competitive Carriers Association, which represents nearly 100 carriers nationwide except AT&T and Verizon, declined to comment about the report.

Murray said it’s frustrating that some companies haven’t done anything yet because scammers are often on the other end of those robocalls.

“These bad guys, they don’t have to have a really high track record. They get one or two hits a day and clean out somebody’s bank account.”

These federal regulations don’t impact robotext messages. Some experts say that could be the next outlet for scammers.

HERE’S WHAT SOME PHONE COMPANIES ARE DOING:

AT&T Statement:

“We are committed to combating the scourge of robocalling, including successfully implementing STIR/SHAKEN. We are fully compliant with its implementation. This effort is a multipronged approach, including tools such as AT&T Call Protect.

Here are some other measures we are taking (you can read more details here):

• AT&T blocks or labels about 1 billion robocalls per month. Fraud calls are blocked from reaching your phone, and suspected spam is labeled so you can choose to answer or not.
• We work closely with federal, state and overseas enforcement agencies as they increasingly prosecute and penalize illegal robocallers.
• Phone service providers also have expanded and improved a program called the Industry Traceback Group. It traces suspicious call traffic back to the source and works with regulators to find and stop the illegal robocallers.
• We help educate consumers on protection against unwanted robocalls at att.com/CyberAware.
• Much of it is a part of AT&T ActiveArmorSM, our combination of 24/7 network protection, built-in security technology and additional security apps to help stop threats before they get to you.”

Verizon Statement:

“Verizon confirmed on June 30 it has met the FCC industry mandate to sign calls with STIR/SHAKEN. In fact, we completed our wireless network upgrade to STIR/SHAKEN in March 2019, more than two years ahead of the June 30 deadline, and our wireless network is 100% compliant today. We were also the first wireless carrier to exchange STIR/SHAKEN traffic with other carriers in August 2019. Our collective efforts have resulted in protecting over 78 million Verizon customers from over 13 billion unwanted calls.

On the landline side, there are some platforms that are exempt from the FCC mandate -- either because they are non-IP platforms (STIR/SHAKEN is IP only technology) or they are being discontinued.

You can learn more about all of the ways Verizon is protecting our customers from robocalls here: https://www.verizon.com/about/responsibility/robocalls.”

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