When the TRACED (Telephone Robocall Abuse Criminal Enforcement and Deterrence) Act passed in early 2020, the law set deadlines for phone companies and voice service providers to provide proof of the implementation of a STIR/SHAKEN protocol that would protect users from spam and robocallers. The first of those deadlines, in June of 2021, required the largest voice service providers to be using STIR/SHAKEN caller ID authentication standards in their networks. Since then, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has been relatively quiet in enforcing the requirements set by the TRACED Act, though it has taken steps to shut down a few service providers since the beginning of the year.

That changed this month, when the FCC announced that 20 voice service providers are receiving Enforcement Bureau orders that could result in them being shut down for good. The reason? It seems that most failed to provide an adequate plan for how they intended to pursue robocall mitigation and/or provide proof that they had implemented the STIR/SHAKEN protocol in their IP network, which are requirements of the TRACED Act. In fact, some may have failed to provide any communication at all to the FCC regarding these matters.

The providers on the list:

  • Computer Integrated Solutions
  • Datacom Specialists
  • DomainerSuite
  • Humbolt VoIP
  • National Cloud Communications
  • NewWave Consulting
  • Route 66 Broadband
  • Tech Bizz Solutions
  • Vida Network Technologies
  • 2054235 Alberta
  • Claude ICT Poland
  • Evernex
  • Etihad Etisalat (Mobily)
  • My Taxi Ride
  • Nervill
  • Phone GS
  • SIA Tet
  • Textodog
  • USA-Connect.net
  • Viettel Business Solutions

The FCC gave all of these companies 14 days (so until October 30) to come forward with an acceptable reason as to why they failed to submit a robocall mitigation plan or risk removal from the FCC’s Robocall Mitigation Database. That’s a big deal because, according to the FCC, “Removal from the database would require all intermediate providers and terminating voice service providers to cease carrying the companies’ traffic, these companies’ customers would be blocked, and no traffic originated by these companies would reach the called party.” In other words, the company would immediately cease business as a functioning voice service provider.

This is the biggest action taken by the FCC since the TRACED Act was passed and shows that they—more specifically the FCC’s Robocall Response Team—are serious about doing everything in their power to get rid of robocalls for good.

If you are concerned about how this might affect your business, feel free to reach out to your contact at CallShaper and we can help you navigate the situation. The official press release from the FCC with more information can be found here.