The Federal Communications Commission has proposed new rules to tighten the Robocall Mitigation Database, the registry that voice service providers use to certify their efforts against illegal calls. The agency wants to clarify which providers must file, improve the accuracy of the information they submit, and add tools to keep bad actors out.
The proposal, adopted July 22 and released July 23, comes as a Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in dockets 24-213, 17-97, and 17-59. Comments are due on or before the dates listed on the first page of the document, which the FCC says will be available on its website.
Among the proposed changes, the FCC seeks comment on defining more precisely what counts as a "voice service provider" so that all entities subject to the rules recognize their obligations. It also proposes measures to confirm the indirect applicability of the rules to foreign providers, address filing obligations of related entities, and allow third parties to file on a provider's behalf.
The agency also wants to strengthen screening for new filers, improve ways to identify noncompliant providers, speed up removal from the database, and prevent unauthorized re-entry. It is seeking comment on which parts of filings should be publicly disclosed.
The FCC says the goal is to ensure the database remains a reliable part of its framework for stopping illegal calls, which also includes caller ID authentication, traceback requirements, and know-your-customer obligations. The proposed rules are drafted to work with changes the agency proposed in its earlier Know Your Upstream Provider proceeding.
The commission is also asking for public input on any new information collections the rules might create, and specifically on how to reduce the burden for small businesses with fewer than 25 employees.
