The Federal Communications Commission is moving to tighten its grip on illegal robocalls, proposing new rules that would require originating voice providers to collect and verify significantly more information about customers before allowing them to place calls, while also introducing steeper, per-call penalties for failures. The proposal, outlined in a Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, signals the FCC’s belief that existing “Know Your Customer” requirements are not being enforced rigorously enough, allowing bad actors to exploit gaps in the system and continue targeting consumers at scale. The regulator aims to tackle the proposal at it’s April meeting, scheduled for April 30.
At the core of the proposal is a push to make originating providers more accountable for who is using their networks.
What the FCC is proposing:
- Require providers to collect key customer data before service activation, including:
- Name and physical address
- Government-issued identification number
- Alternative phone number
- For high-volume callers:
- Intended use of the service (e.g., marketing, political outreach)
- IP address used to originate calls
- Mandatory verification of that information using supporting documentation, such as government-issued ID
- Retention of customer records for at least four years after the relationship ends
- Potential re-verification requirements triggered by unusual calling activity
The FCC is also considering a major shift in enforcement. Instead of penalizing providers on a per-violation basis, the agency is proposing fines assessed per illegal call, a move designed to better align penalties with the scale of consumer harm.
Why it matters: The FCC is clearly signaling that originating providers are the first line of defense. The agency believes stronger onboarding and monitoring practices could stop illegal calls before they ever enter the network, rather than relying solely on downstream blocking and analytics.
The proposal also reflects broader concerns beyond nuisance calls. According to the FCC, insufficient customer vetting can hinder law enforcement efforts tied to serious crimes, including fraud and human trafficking.
The FCC is now seeking public comment, with the outcome likely shaping how aggressively providers must vet customers and monitor calling behavior moving forward.
