Requirements for telecommunications providers could impact legitimate calls.
10/9/2019 11:00
Telecommunication service providers in California will be required to implement call authentication technology or similar protocols on or before Jan. 1, 2021, under a law signed by California Gov. Gavin Newsom.
The Consumer Call Protection Act (SB 208) was introduced earlier this year to stop illegal scams known as “neighbor spoofing” in which scammers attempt to trick consumers into answering calls from imposters posing as local callers, ACA International previously reported.
While the requirements apply to telecommunication service providers the concern remains, as with similar requirements from the Federal Communications Commission and in pending legislation at the federal level, that legitimate calls to consumers will be blocked.
Eric Troutman reports on tcpaworld.com that California legislation would “require each telecommunications services provider, on or before Jan. 1, 2021, to implement STIR/SHAKEN protocols ‘or alternative technology that provides comparable or superior capability to verify and authenticate caller identification for calls carried over an internet protocol network.’”
The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) and the state’s attorney general are authorized to enforce the law and regulations.
However, under the law telecommunications providers are not required to implement call blocking, according to Troutman.
California’s new law is just one of multiple efforts by state and federal legislators and regulators to address illegal robocalls in the U.S.
After its October recess, House and Senate leaders are expected to discuss reconciliation of two bills to mitigate robocalls—the Stopping Bad Robocalls Act and Telephone Robocall Abuse Criminal Enforcement and Deterrence (TRACED) Act.
ACA is continuing its advocacy on behalf of the industry and members to help find a balance between ending the illegal robocalls while protecting communications between consumers and legitimate callers using modern technologies.
In joint comments on the FCC's third Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on Advanced Methods to Target and Eliminate Unlawful Robocalls, ACA and a group of associations provided suggestions outlining how legitimate calls to consumers can be protected while reducing frivolous litigation and regulatory overlap.
“The SHAKEN/STIR (call authentication) framework must be designed to ensure that important, and often time-sensitive, calls that association members and other organizations place to their customers are not blocked,” the comments state.
Related Content from ACA International:
California Senator Introduces Legislation Against Illegal Robocall Scams
ACA Leads Effort to Ensure Legitimate Call Lines Remain Open to Consumers