FCC Expands Anti-Spoofing Rules, Reviews Comments On Default Opt-Out Call-Blocking

FCC Expands Anti-Spoofing Rules

The FCC unanimously adopted revised anti-spoofing rules, implementing part of the RAY BAUM's Act, at its August meeting. As we anticipated in last month's TCPA Digest, the Second Report and Order ("Second R&O") extends the FCC's Truth in Caller ID rules to encompass malicious spoofing activities originating outside the U.S. that are directed at consumers within the U.S. It also expands the scope of communications covered by the Truth in Caller ID rules beyond telecommunications services and interconnected voice over Internet Protocol ("VoIP") services to include text messaging and alternative voice services, such as one-way VoIP services.

The Second R&O was generally unopposed by stakeholders. The only concern raised in the record related to the addition of Common Short Codes to the definition of "text message" in the Second R&O. Those opposed to the change argued that there is no evidence that Common Short Codes can be spoofed,