Chairman Pai Proposal To Target Unwanted Robocalls And Spam Robotexts

Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai proposed measures to reduce unwanted robocalls and prevent spam text messaging. First, he is calling on his fellow Commissioners to approve a reassigned number database. This database would help legitimate callers know whether telephone numbers have been reassigned to somebody else before calling those numbers so they can direct their calls to parties who asked for them rather than individuals who have subsequently obtained those reassigned numbers. Second, he is proposing to make clear that wireless providers are authorized to take measures to stop unwanted text messaging through robotext-blocking, antispoofing measures, and other anti-spam features. The draft Declaratory Ruling on text messaging would formally rule that text-messaging services are information services, not telecommunications services, thus allowing carriers to continue using robotext-blocking and anti-spoofing measures to protect consumers from unwanted text messages. This Declaratory Ruling would rule on a 2015 petition from masstexting provider Twilio and a 2007 petition from Public Knowledge. The reassigned numbers proposal would establish new rules in order to launch a database of reassigned numbers. This would help prevent accidental robocalls to numbers that are no longer assigned to consumers who signed up to receive those calls.