Are you ready to block calls from unregistered providers?

The FCC Second Report and Order on SHAKEN prohibits U.S. providers from accepting voice traffic directly from unregistered providers starting September 28, 2021. Are you ready?

FCC rules

These rules appear in the Commission’s Second Report and Order on SHAKEN, Docket Number WC-17-97, paragraph 86.

We prohibit intermediate providers and terminating voice service providers from accepting voice traffic directly from any voice service provider that does not appear in the database, including a foreign voice service provider that uses NANP resources that pertain to the United States to send voice traffic to residential or business subscribers in the United States.

Note the word directly in this requirement. The rule applies to the next upstream provider, not the originating service provider.

Robocall Mitigation Database

As of September 20, 2021, there were over 3,300 U.S. voice service providers in the Robocall Mitigation Database (RMD). There are over 6,600 service providers with active 499 filings. Now, the RMD allows for a consolidated filing, with multiple providers on one filing. That could account for some of the difference between these numbers. Still, it looks like there may be some active service providers that haven’t filed yet. Time’s running out.

Foreign service providers

There has been some concern that foreign service providers may not realize they need to register in the RMD. If a gateway U.S. provider receives a call with a U.S. calling number from an unregistered foreign provider, the gateway provider is not supposed to accept the call. Note that this could include calls made by U.S. callers traveling overseas and calling home with their U.S. calling number.

As of September 20, 2021, there were over 400 foreign service providers registered in the RMD, with many countries and carriers represented. It appears that many got the word. But what about the international intermediate wholesale providers? They’re the direct upstream provider for many foreign calls entering the U.S.

Just one week to go. This will be interesting.

TransNexus solutions

We offer STIR/SHAKEN and robocall mitigation solutions in our ClearIP and NexOSS software platforms. We can make your STIR/SHAKEN deployment a smooth process.

In addition, we help service providers with all aspects of STIR/SHAKEN deployment, including registering with the Policy Administrator and filing their certification with the FCC.

We also offer robocall mitigation solutions for non-U.S. service providers. These solutions will enable you to have your calls accepted by U.S. service providers in compliance with FCC rules.

Contact us today to learn more.