FCC Will Blacklist Phone Service Providers For Allowing Robocalls

The Federal Communications Commission will remove seven voice-over IP providers out of its list of trusted carriers for failing to apply safeguards against robocalls.

The FCC implemented ID verification protocols known as “STIR/SHAKEN” last summer, and compiled a Robocall Mitigation Database of certified voice providers, as part the 2019 Telephone Robocall Abuse Criminal Enforcement and Deterrence (TRACED) Act. The regulation requires that companies in the database certify they are following the FCC’s robocall mitigation practices.”

— “‘Fines alone aren’t enough:’ FCC threatens to blacklist voice providers for flouting robocall rules,” Tonya Riley, CyberScoop [links added]

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Feds Fine Fraudsters for Making a Billion Robocalls

“The U.S. communications regulator on Tuesday proposed a $225 million fine, its largest ever, against two health insurance telemarketers for spamming people with 1 billion robocalls using fake phone numbers.

The Federal Communications Commission said John Spiller and Jakob Mears made the calls through two businesses. State attorneys general of Arkansas, Indiana, Michigan, Missouri, North Carolina, Ohio and Texas also sued the two men and their companies, Rising Eagle and JSquared Telecom, in federal court in Texas, where both men live, for violating the federal law governing telemarketing, the Telephone Consumer Protection Act.”

— “Feds seek $225M fine for pair who made a billion robocalls,” By Tali Arbel, Associated Press

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Congress Passes Another Anti-Robocall Bill.

“The Telephone Robocall Abuse Criminal Enforcement and Deterrence Act, or the TRACED Act, empowers the federal government with new abilities to go after illegal robocallers. Once TRACED is enacted, the Federal Communications Commission could fine robocallers up to $10,000 per call. It also would require major carriers like AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile to deploy a new technology called STIR/SHAKEN into their networks, which will make it easier for consumers to know if they’re receiving a call from a spoofed number.”

— “Robocall fines rise to $10,000 per call under newly passed law,” Makena Kelly, The Verge

More:

“Senate passes anti-robocalls bill; Trump expected to sign,” Tali Arbel, Associated Press

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Trump PAC: ‘Don’t Vote for a Cuban’

The white nationalist American Freedom Party‘s American National Super PAC has been robocalling voters with this message:“The white race is dying out in America and Europe because we are afraid to be called ‘racist.'” …. “Donald Trump is not a racist, but Donald Trump is not afraid. Don’t vote for a Cuban. Vote for Donald Trump.”

No More Robocalls

The Federal Trade Commission offered a $50,000 prize for techniques to block robocalls. What? Only $50,000? That deserves a Nobel Peace Prize. Committee members have their work cut out for them, though — there were three winners.

Here’s one of them:

NRA Robocalls Newtown Residents

As part of it’s lobbying campaign to block gun violence legislation before the Connecticut legislature, the National Rifle Association has been robocalling residents of Newtown, site of the Sandy Hook Elementary School mass shooting which cost the lives of 20 small children and 6 educators on December 14th. Newtown residents are understandably appalled and enraged.

You can hear the recorded message by clicking on the link below. Imagine how it would sound if you got this robocall while sitting at the dinner table with your child, a surviving schoolmate of the young victims, or if there was an empty chair at dinner since December 14th.

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Congress Hangs Up on Cell Phone Robocalls

A bill introduced in the House of Representatives, HR 3035, the “Mobile Informational Call Act of 2011,” would have allowed telemarketing robocalls to cell phones at the subscribers expense. After an understandable outcry of opposition, Congress realized that HR 3035 was a wrong number. Sponsors Rep. Lee Terry (R, NE-2) and Rep. Edolphus Towns (D, NY-10) withdrew the bill from consideration.

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