The FCC Enforcement Bureau warned three more voice service providers that are apparently transmitting illegal robocalls on their networks that they have 48 hours to stop facilitating this traffic or face all their traffic being blocked by other carriers. The agency sent cease and desist letters to thinQ Technologies, Airespring, and Hello Hello Miami.
To-date, the agency has sent a dozen such letters. All recipients have quickly responded and committed to take actions to stop the flow of robocalls on their networks, according to the Commission.
FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel has made clear to network parties they must meet their obligations to protect consumers from scams or lose access to other networks. The FCC has constructed the tools necessary to take what it calls “swift and impactful action” against bad actors, meaning not only possible fines but also business ramifications for those removed from the Robocall Mitigation Database.
“There are far too many phone companies that count illegal robocallers among their clients, and that’s bad business,” said Rosenworcel. “It is illegal to allow these junk calls to flood consumers’ phones, and there are consequences for phone companies that do not take immediate action to stop participating in these schemes.”
These investigations relied in part on information collected by the Traceback Consortium. The group was made aware of suspicious activity and traced the illegal robocall traffic to these providers. In addition, in the case of thinQ, the North Carolina Department of Justice identified that company as a source of illegal robocall traffic, according to the FCC. Rosenworcel called the help from the Consortium and the Office of North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein “a model partnership for combating robocalls.”
By Leslie Stimson, Inside Towers Washington Bureau Chief
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