Introduction The waiting is over. Yesterday the FCC finally dropped a firm deadline like a mic at a press conference — or rather the Federal Register did. As of December 15, 2025, all US-based voice service providers are required to block calls based on a “reasonable Do Not Originate” list — part of the FCC’s… Continue Reading
STIR-SHAKEN
STIR/SHAKEN Compliance: What Rural Carriers Need to Know (May 2025 Update)
The fight against illegal robocalls continues to evolve, and in early 2025, the regulatory expectations for voice service providers — including small rural carriers — are becoming more complex and more urgent. The FCC has made it clear that STIR/SHAKEN implementation is just one piece of a broader strategy that includes Know Your Customer (KYC)… Continue Reading
Navigating the Murky Waters of Call Authentication: The New Out-of-Band SHAKEN Standard
In the quest to fortify our telecommunications against the dark arts of caller ID spoofing, the latest standard from ATIS has arrived like a knight in shining armor. Let’s unpack the Out-of-Band SHAKEN and see how it’s equipping us to bridge the gaps left by non-IP segments in our network. The Challenge of Non-IP Sections:… Continue Reading
What is 3rd-party SHAKEN, are you doing it, and is it okay?
In November, the FCC adopted an Eighth Report and Order in its series on Caller ID Authentication. The new rules aim to bring some clarity and direction to the slippery subject of third-party STIR/SHAKEN signing, in an effort to crack down on the number of robocalls getting B-level attestations and to aid the Industry Traceback… Continue Reading
Thousands of providers get FCC warnings about Robocalls and STIR/SHAKEN
On December 10th, the FCC published a notice warning 2,411 service providers that their Robocall Mitigation Database (RMD) filings were not compliant. Those service providers are required to fix the issues ASAP or they risk getting removed from the RMD… which in turn would mean that they lose access to the PSTN. Eek. For those… Continue Reading
What do to when the Industry Traceback Group contacts you about a suspected robocall
Ever wonder what happens behind the scenes when law enforcement gets involved in tracking down a harassing phone call? It’s not all detective shows and dramatic revelations. Often, it’s about meticulous work by organizations like the Industry Traceback Group (ITG), who piece together the puzzle of phone networks to find the culprit. For phone service… Continue Reading