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posted by Fnord666 on Monday July 17 2017, @01:36AM   Printer-friendly
from the follow-the-money dept.

Arthur T Knackerbracket has found the following story:

The Federal Communications Commission wants to crack down on unwanted "robocalls" and is looking at ways to help consumers block them.

The FCC wants to put an end to annoying unwanted robocalls.

On Thursday, the commission voted unanimously to evaluate a system that would allow phone companies to check if a number calling you is legit. The goal is to deter unscrupulous companies that make these automated calls from "spoofing," or using a fake phone number to trick you into answering their calls.

A call authentication system could help improve third-party apps that allow consumers to block these calls. It could also open the door to phone companies that may want to offer a service to block unwanted calls.

The FCC has already been considering rules that would allow phone companies to block robocalls from unassigned numbers or from numbers that don't exist.

Ridding the world of robocalls entirely is tricky since some legitimate communications are made using automated call technology, such as messages from schools, weather alerts, public utilities or political organizations. Phone companies don't want to block legitimate calls that consumers want to receive.

[...] The FCC has also been stepping up its enforcement of illegal robocalls. Separately, it voted 2-1 to fine a New Mexico-based company $2.88 million for making unlawful robocalls. Last month, the FCC fined a Florida resident $120 million for allegedly making almost 100 million illegal robocalls in a three-month period.

-- submitted from IRC


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  • (Score: 2) by DannyB on Monday July 17 2017, @02:41PM (1 child)

    by DannyB (5839) Subscriber Badge on Monday July 17 2017, @02:41PM (#540324) Journal

    The Federal Communications Commission wants to crack down on unwanted "robocalls"

    So I take it they're not going after wanted robocalls. Not sweeping up the good with the bad. Not throwing the bath water out with the baby. Like how the FTC wouldn't make spam illegal because some people might want spam. (eg, the marketing people wanted spam, but they wanted to be sending it)

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  • (Score: 1) by mcgrew on Monday July 17 2017, @07:17PM

    by mcgrew (701) <publish@mcgrewbooks.com> on Monday July 17 2017, @07:17PM (#540498) Homepage Journal

    "Wanted" robocalls? That's like saying it's okay to throw wanted trash in your yard! NOBODY wants to talk to a robot!

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