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The FCC Has Fined Robocallers $208M, Collected $6,790

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Re: The FCC Has Fined Robocallers $208M, Collected $6,790

#32
post #23

Earlier quoted context omitted.

As someone with a heavy background, it would break a fair bit of the PSTN - while moves are in place to change the technical limitations of the PSTN that prevent this kind of verification, they're not complete yet, and will take several more years to implement fully.

Any chance you can explain what the PSTN is and why it is important? I tried reading the wikipedia article[1] but I still feel like I don't have enough telecom domain knowledge to understand it. 1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_switched_telephone_netw...

If you're still making and receiving phone calls (dialed with numbers, using the dialer on your smart phone, etc), then that's the PSTN you're using.

Re: The FCC Has Fined Robocallers $208M, Collected $6,790

#33
post #23

Stop allowing spoofed numbers. Period. I'm sorry BigCorp, but this is a public nuisance and trumps your "need" for a single phone number.

As someone with a heavy background, it would break a fair bit of the PSTN - while moves are in place to change the technical limitations of the PSTN that prevent this kind of verification, they're not complete yet, and will take several more years to implement fully.

>> Stop allowing spoofed numbers. Period.

> As someone with a heavy background, it would break a fair bit of the PSTN

As it stands, I think quite a few consumers are ready to just walk away from PSTN unless something pretty drastic is done quite soon.

Re: The FCC Has Fined Robocallers $208M, Collected $6,790

#34
post #2

Honestly I'm surprised they've managed to collect that much. Good job guys.

So if Kevin Bacon wanted to start a pirate radio station he could just set up shop and get away with it now?

Do you mean Christian Slater? Or did I forget a sub-plot in Footloose?

Re: The FCC Has Fined Robocallers $208M, Collected $6,790

#35
post #29

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Maybe. It would be interesting to know the average dollar raked in per call.

It depends on rate center - remember those free conference services - they often used rate centers which were rural so they had a higher termination charge, which meant that the service was profitable. While I'm having trouble finding hard rates - with the big carriers, I know its not a ton of money now in any case - low enough that I dont think the financial incentive is a relevant course of action, it just subsidiz…

No. I mean the average dollar amount scammed per call.

I assume most calls are not successful, but over a thousand calls how much can a scammer expect to make?

Re: The FCC Has Fined Robocallers $208M, Collected $6,790

#37
post #15

Stop allowing spoofed numbers. Period. I'm sorry BigCorp, but this is a public nuisance and trumps your "need" for a single phone number.

This is the US, where money is speech and one dollar is one vote. Individual consumers don't have enough money to matter compared to BigCorp.

Clinton outspent Trump nearly 2:1 in the last election ($768m, $398m respectively) and still lost.

Yes she won the popular vote by about 3m votes but that’s hardly a dollar to vote ratio.

People vote their emotions, and emotions are surprisingly difficult to buy.

Re: The FCC Has Fined Robocallers $208M, Collected $6,790

#39

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is a market-based problem rather than a policy problem: The problem is the low cost of making calls. Make calls cost money and the problem will naturally go away.

Already three down-votes, but not a single explanation or repudiation as to why this particular problem isn’t solved more easily by markets.

The technological and legislative infrastructure required to turn this into a market far exceeds what would be required for simpler anti-spam measures. It comes across as unhelpful and detached, like suggesting world peace as the solution to gang violence in your neighborhood.

Re: The FCC Has Fined Robocallers $208M, Collected $6,790

#40
post #23

Stop allowing spoofed numbers. Period. I'm sorry BigCorp, but this is a public nuisance and trumps your "need" for a single phone number.

As someone with a heavy background, it would break a fair bit of the PSTN - while moves are in place to change the technical limitations of the PSTN that prevent this kind of verification, they're not complete yet, and will take several more years to implement fully.

Would be super interested in the details if you’re willing to share.
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