FCC Plans Robocall Scorecard to Grade Phone Companies On Spam Call Blocking (arstechnica.com)
- Reference: 0185379934
- News link: https://mobile.slashdot.org/story/26/09/02/215232/fcc-plans-robocall-scorecard-to-grade-phone-companies-on-spam-call-blocking
- Source link: https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2026/09/fcc-plans-robocall-scorecard-to-grade-phone-companies-on-spam-call-blocking/
> The scorecards could include call-blocking statistics along with data on customer complaints and enforcement actions. The FCC said scorecards could grade providers on a number scale, with letter grades, or by classifying providers as low risk, medium risk, or high risk. The proposed tool would rate wireless, wireline, and VoIP providers on efforts to block robocalls and their "actual results in protecting [consumers] from illegal robocalls," the FCC said. "In practice, that means moving beyond a simple administrative checklist (i.e., did the provider file the right paperwork, did they offer the right tools) and toward a composite set of metrics that reflects both operational practices and measurable outcomes, including how often legitimate calls are blocked."
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> Whether the tool is useful for consumers will depend on how it's designed, how easy each provider's scorecard is to find, and what data sources it relies on. The proposed scorecard would apply to domestic voice service providers with retail customers, but not telcos that operate solely as wholesale or intermediate providers. "Combatting the scourge of illegal robocalls remains the FCC's top consumer protection priority... As proposed in today's public notice, the FCC aims to develop a scorecard that will give consumers more information about the measures providers are taking to fight illegal robocalls, and it will also incentivize providers to improve their efforts," FCC Chairman Brendan Carr said in a [3]press release .
[1] https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DA-26-932A1.pdf
[2] https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2026/09/fcc-plans-robocall-scorecard-to-grade-phone-companies-on-spam-call-blocking/
[3] https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DOC-424686A1.pdf
That horse left the barn long ago (Score:2)
Better late than never, I suppose. But people have, out of necessity, devised their own solution - simply never answer your phone unless it's a call from someone you know or unless it's a call you recognize and were expecting. Otherwise, enjoy voicemail, unasked-for caller.
Text messages are in the same spot now.
I'm not sure whether they truly 'cannot' stop the flood of robocalls, or whether they just are too cheap or lazy, but by not dealing with it they've made their service less valuable to most consu
Re: (Score:2)
Yes. I get two to three a day. That is annoying even if I do not answer. Worse, I might actually miss an important call. The phone companies have to know who these people are, they are making thousands of calls every day. Hardly any legitimate business does that anymore.
Re: (Score:3)
The DoNotCall website has been around for a couple decades. Notice how well it works these days.
Political texts and calls happen even if you do the whole DoNotCall list thing. You can thank your phone provider and Voter registration and every single website you've entered any little bit of information into.
I wish you the best of luck trying to block every single call/text/email you didn't sign up for.
Customer services (Score:2)
These are my favorites. They're an actual AI. That you can manipulate.
The one that's been calling me tells me I've got Humpty thousand in credit card debt and that it's willing to help me straighten it out.
Oddly it cannot tell me who my credit card is with or how it knows how much I have in debt (that I don't)
It's hilarious - tell it you don't like whatever name it's called you by and and you want to be Mister bozo t. clown and they will call you Mister Bozo T clown.
There's at least one YouTube vide
Phone provider labels calls (Score:2)
A do-not-call blacklist isn't working because many it allows many exceptions. A 'white-list' of names, such as the names of registered corporations, is far more useful.
If a phone number makes many calls and isn't linked to a business name or registered corporation, my phone provider labels the incoming call, "suspected scam".
Designed to be useful (Score:2)
I'm guessing you'll need to navigate, at a minimum, at least 7 levels to get to the first useful screen.
Laughable.... (Score:2)
There clearly isn't any financial incentive (or disincentive) to do jack shit about the problem. The carriers would rather collect the fees than deal with it. Turn up the heat. Nobody at the top gives a crap about how much of a nuisance this is.
The Do Not Call List was useless sooooo... (Score:2)
We're going to make consumers feel "better" by rating their carriers who cannot or will not do anything about this invasion into your lives, syealing billions, and getting away with it. Thanks FCC...no really because crime does pay as long as you dont use a gun.
Something useful (Score:2, Funny)
Keep it quiet everyone there's something useful that they forgot to cancel from the Biden administration
Re: (Score:2, Troll)
Well, this would only work if the phone provider actually does block stuff and keeps a record to look back on, and enforces it.
Wasn't there a thing a while ago to block robo-calls? Isn't that what the DoNotCall list is for?
I would say... "How does whoever get my number?", but that's covered by the ToS/EULA language... read through all of both some day... you'd be shocked at the s**t in there.
Re: (Score:2)
The no-call registry came about under the Bush administration, from congress.