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FCC Plans Robocall Scorecard to Grade Phone Companies On Spam Call Blocking
The FCC is proposing a public robocall mitigation scorecard to evaluate phone companies' effectiveness in blocking illegal spam calls. This scorecard aims to empower consumers and encourage providers to enhance their robocall mitigation efforts. It will assess how well companies block unwanted calls while minimizing the blocking of legitimate ones. The scorecards may include data on call-blocking statistics, customer complaints, and enforcement actions. Providers could be assigned numerical or letter grades, or categorized by risk level. The tool will rate wireless, wireline, and VoIP providers on their blocking practices and their actual success in protecting consumers. This approach moves beyond just paperwork to measure operational practices and tangible outcomes, including avoiding false positives. The usefulness of the scorecard will hinge on its design, accessibility, and the data it utilizes. It will apply to domestic voice service providers with retail customers, excluding wholesale-only operators. Ultimately, the FCC intends this scorecard to provide consumers with more information and incentivize providers to improve their fight against illegal robocalls.