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FCC Chairman Proposes Robocall Blocking by Default

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Re: FCC Chairman Proposes Robocall Blocking by Default

#21

Post by philipov »

SpicyLemonZest wrote: post #14
jessriedel wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Today, many voice providers have held off developing and deploying call blocking tools by default because of uncertainty about whether these tools are legal under the FCC’s rules. Is this really true? How absolutely dysfunctional things must be.

I'm not sure I agree it's dysfunctional. "We're going to block some people off from the phone lines because we don't think they ought to be making calls" is exactly the kind of policy that should be heavily scrutinized.

It could be dysfunctional if the application of that heavy scrutiny is overwhelmingly biased towards a particular interest rather than being applied uniformly. Complaints of dysfunction aren't based on disputes of principle, but anger at their implementation.

Re: FCC Chairman Proposes Robocall Blocking by Default

#22

Post by mathnmusic »

SpicyLemonZest wrote: post #14
jessriedel wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Today, many voice providers have held off developing and deploying call blocking tools by default because of uncertainty about whether these tools are legal under the FCC’s rules. Is this really true? How absolutely dysfunctional things must be.

I'm not sure I agree it's dysfunctional. "We're going to block some people off from the phone lines because we don't think they ought to be making calls" is exactly the kind of policy that should be heavily scrutinized.

That policy wouldn't be about blocking people from making calls. It'd be about allowing TOOLS that let USERS block unwanted calls.

Re: FCC Chairman Proposes Robocall Blocking by Default

#23

Post by chrisfinazzo »

inetknght wrote: post #13

tl;dr: Upload your contact lists to your service provider so that your service provider can block calls from people not in your contact list. If the blocking doesn't work completely from within my own device then it's going to be a no from me.

How would this account for (legitimate) blocked numbers or those that originate behind a switch? I get calls from recruiters from time to time that do this as a matter of course.

Although I have no expectation the GOP would actually do this, I would add an asterisk to the policy...

* If you use these lists for marketing to existing customers, we reserve the right to sue you out of existence. Kindly GFY.

Re: FCC Chairman Proposes Robocall Blocking by Default

#24

Post by bcheung »

How will this be implemented from a technology and policy perspective?

The idea is one I am definitely supportive of. My phone rarely comes out of DnD now because of the robocallers.

But the devil is in the details. Forcing people to add someone to their contact list before being able to receive calls from them will probably be a bit draconian.

Another possible solution would be that someone can request access to call you and there is some service that verifies their identity and presents that information to you.

"[NAME] is requesting permission to contact you through [VOICE CALLS, EMAIL, TEXT]. Allow/Deny?"

Another good solution might be to add something equivalent to HTTPS / SSL certs, where only secure and verified identities can contact you.

Re: FCC Chairman Proposes Robocall Blocking by Default

#25

Post by chipperyman573 »

inetknght wrote: post #13

tl;dr: Upload your contact lists to your service provider so that your service provider can block calls from people not in your contact list. If the blocking doesn't work completely from within my own device then it's going to be a no from me.

Can't you already do this from your own device? Android and iOS both let you block calls that aren't from people in your contacts.

Re: FCC Chairman Proposes Robocall Blocking by Default

#26

Post by wavefunction »

bcheung wrote: post #24

How will this be implemented from a technology and policy perspective? The idea is one I am definitely supportive of. My phone rarely comes out of DnD now because of the robocallers. But the devil is in the details. Forcing people to add someone to their contact list before being able to receive calls from them will probably be a bit draconian. Another possible solution would be that someone can request access to cal…

I'd settle for non-spoofable CallerID

Re: FCC Chairman Proposes Robocall Blocking by Default

#27

Post by raverbashing »

jedberg wrote: post #4

If this actually happens I will be thankful that at least he did something good during his tenure. I suppose this will get through since it doesn’t hurt the profits of the telcos. In fact it will give them a new profit center! Because I’m sure that they won’t offer “block by default” for free.

Funny, because if they charged all those calls by the price they sell consumer services they would make a lot of money. But no

It's the same thing with "USPS going bankrupt", charge commercial mail its actual cost (x10 what costs now) and see the money come in. You get subsidized cost if you actually buy a physical stamp and glue it to your letter

Re: FCC Chairman Proposes Robocall Blocking by Default

#28

Post by [deleted] »

bcheung wrote: post #24

How will this be implemented from a technology and policy perspective? The idea is one I am definitely supportive of. My phone rarely comes out of DnD now because of the robocallers. But the devil is in the details. Forcing people to add someone to their contact list before being able to receive calls from them will probably be a bit draconian. Another possible solution would be that someone can request access to cal…

[deleted]

Re: FCC Chairman Proposes Robocall Blocking by Default

#29

Post by howard941 »

dymk wrote: post #18
chapium wrote: post #5

I disagree with having the service providers block the calls. Shouldn't that be up to the consumer? Having your carrier block a call seems like an overreach. I feel this erodes trust in the phone system even more.

How is a consumer supposed to reliably block robocall without help from the provider? The provider is the only entity in this system that has the information needed to curb robocalling.

I too dislike carrier-hosted block. Pass the SHAKEN/STIR validity flag to me along with the CID data and let me decide whether to trash the call. Or give me ANI in place of CID.

Re: FCC Chairman Proposes Robocall Blocking by Default

#30

Post by bcheung »

chapium wrote: post #5

I disagree with having the service providers block the calls. Shouldn't that be up to the consumer? Having your carrier block a call seems like an overreach. I feel this erodes trust in the phone system even more.

Sounds like consumers would have a choice.

From the link:

> He expects providers to offer consumers robust, free call blocking tools based on analytics & consumer contact lists.

I do have some privacy concerns about the contact lists being exposed but in general this seems like a good thing.

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