The FCC is moving forward with the next steps in its efforts to combat robocalls. The current efforts on the road to implement the TRACED act focus on promoting the deployment of caller ID authentication technology, and STIR/SHAKEN implicitly, across the industry with specific rules and new deadlines related to that.

With millions of illegal robocalls going out every day, many of them with the intent to defraud Americans, these actions are not only necessary, but they are also essential to the continued survival of the contact center space. Declining trust in voice calls is one of the main reasons people don’t pick up the phone anymore.

The Scope of the Report

As such, the current FCC Fact Sheet is the Second Report and Order, and it specifically sets out to do the following:

• Adopt rules to facilitate the implementation of proposals from the First Report (March 2020).
• Regulate intermediate providers
• Regulate how non-IP networks adopt caller ID authentication
• More implementations regarding TRACED Act exceptions and extensions
• Prohibiting line-item charges for caller ID authentication

What the Report Would Actually Do

The Second Report and Order still needs to be passed during the September 30, 2020 meeting of the FCC, and it may suffer changes during the following two weeks. Still, the main changes proposed are the following:

• Clear requirements for service providers operating on non-IP networks: either switch to an IP network or work to develop a solution for non-IP caller ID authentication.
• Deadline extension for the June 30, 2021 caller ID authentication implementation for the following categories:
  • Small voice service providers
  • Voice service providers who cannot currently obtain the certificate necessary for STIR/SHAKEN implementation
  • Services scheduled for discontinuation
  • Non-IP networks
• Requirements for these categories of voice service providers to implement some form of robocall mitigation program if they do not currently have STIR/SHAKEN implemented on any part of their network.
• All voice service providers must say how they’re trying to combat the origination of illegal robocalls. To do so, providers must file a certification in a Commission database.
• Voice service providers who’ve made progress in the early stages of STIR/SHAKEN implementation can get an exemption from the June 30, 2021 deadline.
• Voice service providers cannot add line item changes to the bills of consumers or small businesses in exchange for caller ID authentication technology.
• Intermediate providers must implement STIR/SHAKEN in the IP portions of their networks by the original deadline of June 30, 2021.

Summing Up

We will return to this page following the September 30 meeting of the FCC. However, this gives us a clear direction in how the FCC is moving forward with TRACED Act and STIR/SHAKEN implementation.

Meanwhile, here at NobelBiz, we are committed to our mission of providing all our customers with a clear process for STIR/SHAKEN attestation.

If you want to learn more about STIR/SHAKEN from one of the people in the industry that had a hand in its drafting, listen to our podcast episode with Rebekah Johnson, CEO of Numeracle.

If you’d like to work with us to achieve full compliance and attestation for the numbers you use in your business, don’t hesitate to give us a call and try out our carrier services for contact centers.

georgian.toader

With a background in Anthropology and a passion for digital marketing and copywriting, Georgian enjoys translating complex, often technical, concepts into everyday words. He loves optimizing everything, from texts, marketing funnels, and PPC campaigns to visual creations, social media feeds, or landing pages.