FCC cuts cord on hundreds of potential robocall originators

The Federal Communications Commission announced more action to protect Americans from robocalls. The agency disconnected more than 1,200 non-compliant voice service providers from the U.S. phone network.

Providers removed

The FCC announced those providers were officially removed from the Robocall Mitigation Database. They were accused of failing to maintain accurate Robocall Mitigation Database certifications.

That database shows how providers are taking steps to fight illegal robocalls on their network.

“Robocalls are an all-too-common frustration—and threat—to Americans households,” Brendan Carr, chairman of the FCC, said in a statement. “The FCC is doing everything in its power to fight back against these malicious and illegal calls. Providers that fail to do their duty when it comes to stopping these calls have no place in our networks. We’re taking action and we will continue to do so.”

According to the FCC, the most recent list of companies removed received a final warning but still did not comply. These providers are mostly small VoIP and telecom companies, not any of the major carriers.

Removed providers can refile in the database but only with express approval from the FCC’s Enforcement and Wireline Competition Bureaus.

Purging providers

This process began in December 2024 when the FCC ordered more than 2,400 providers to fix deficient filings or provide a reason they shouldn’t be removed from the database.

Providers are required to certify they have implemented what’s called STIR/SHAKEN caller ID authentication.

STIR stands for Secure Telephone Identity Revisited, while SHAKEN stands for Signature-based Handling of Asserted information using toKENs.

Those more than 1,200 providers did not meet the requirements and were removed.

The removals began on Wednesday, Aug. 6, when 185 providers appeared in at least one traceback as an originating, gateway or non-responsive provider.

Operation Robocall Roundup

Following the removal of those providers, 51 state attorneys general launched Operation Robocall Roundup. The FCC said robocalls are the number one complaint they get from consumers.

That operation aims to crack down on robocalls nationwide.

“Robocalls are not just an annoyance, many of them are illegal,” Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday said in a statement. “Robocalls are often a tool used by scammers to take advantage of the most vulnerable Pennsylvanians.”

Other AGs also weighed in.

“These annoying and illegal robocallers are relentless in disrupting Hoosiers’ lives and, worse, trying to steal their personal information and hard-earned money,” Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita said in a statement. “As we work to bring these scammers to justice and protect Indiana families, we must have the telecom industry’s involvement in shutting them down.”