As TCPAworld readers know the comment period just closed on another major FCC telecom NPRM– this one focused on number availability and number rotation by call centers.
The Commission’s thinking is that if they can limit access to phone numbers to bad guys and limit the phone numbers used by legitimate businesses they can increase visibility and enforcement efforts will become easier.
Its a laudable goal– and a logical approach– but it overlooks a ton.
Most importantly, call centers are forced to use large banks of phone numbers to avoid copious and illegal call blocking and labelling by the carriers who label first and ask questions later– literally the first time a call is made on a new number it is almost always labeled “Scam” or “spam” even though there is no basis for that label. As such call centers use large banks of “warmed up” numbers to assure their calls can get through without harmful labeling attached.
To be absolutely clear we are talking about LEGITIMATE LEGAL CALLS from real businesses to real customers that are beig blocked and labeled. It is a massive problem and R.E.A.C.H.’s comment asks the Commission to tackle the ROOT of the number rotation issue– the improper call blocking and labeling by the carriers.
R.E.A.C.H. also asks the Commission to assure ready access to numbering resources by good actors by assuring a competitive resale marketplace for such numbers. Still R.E.A.C.H. agreed with the Commission’s approach to require further disclosures and recordkeeping by entities selling numbers downstream to ensure increased visibility.
Its another world-class piece of advocacy from a very dialed-in trade organization. Lots of thanks goes to Rick Ruth, Isaac Shloss, Gayla Huber and Steven Rosenfeld of my office.
BTW– R.E.A.C.H. is growing rapidly right now with five great new members joining in the month of May.
If you haven’t joined yet there’s a great opportunity for buy-side organizations to get the benefits of R.E.A.C.H.–access to amazing educational and networking resources in addition to help guide the regulatory framework for the entire telecom world–visit https://www.reachmbc.com/buyer-membership and use code for full discount BUYER100
You can also read the full R.E.A.C.H. reply comment here: REACH Reply Comments – 6.8.26
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