FCC Proposes Stricter Provider Identity Checks and Per-Call Fines to Curb Illegal Robocalls
Summary
The FCC is seeking comment on proposed stricter customer identity checks, longer record retention and per-call penalties for voice providers, aiming to curb illegal robocalls and help law enforcement.
Key points
- The proposed rules would apply to traditional voice, commercial mobile and interconnected VoIP providers.
- Providers would collect customer names, addresses, government ID numbers and alternate phone numbers, and verify identities before service.
- High-volume customers could also need to provide their calling IP address and intended use of the service.
- The FCC is considering requiring providers to retain verification records for at least four years and reverify data after unusual activity.
- Proposed KYC penalties would be assessed per call; the FCC says this would better reflect the volume and harm of illegal calls.
- Separately, the FCC proposed a $4.5 million fine against Voxbeam over allegedly accepting unauthorized foreign call traffic; the fine is not final.
Article Details
- Event Type
- FCC proposed rulemaking to strengthen customer identity verification requirements for originating voice, mobile, and interconnected VoIP providers.
- Impact
- The proposed measures would require providers to collect and verify more customer information, retain verification records for at least four years, and potentially reverify higher-risk customers or after unusual activity. The FCC also proposed per-call penalties for KYC violations. The measures aim to reduce illegal robocalls, consumer fraud, and barriers to law-enforcement investigations. Separately, the FCC proposed a $4.5 million fine against Voxbeam Telecommunications, alleging it accepted call traffic from an unauthorized foreign provider and thereby facilitated financial impersonation robocalls; the fine is not final.