T-Mobile May Block All Debt Collection Text Messages to Its Users

In November of last year, telecommunications carrier T-Mobile quietly made a change to its Code of Conduct that could potentially have enormous consequences: it listed debt collection among what it considers to be “disallowed content.” As a result, it is possible that T-Mobile will block all debt collection text messages—even those that are legal and… Continue reading T-Mobile May Block All Debt Collection Text Messages to Its Users

One Year Later: Tracking the Implementation of the TRACED Act

December 30, 2020 marks the one year anniversary of President Donald Trump signing the Pallone-Thune TRACED Act into law. The law, whose name is an acronym for Telephone Robocall Abuse Criminal Enforcement and Deterrence, is the first major federal telemarketing legislation in more than a decade. An addition to the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA),… Continue reading One Year Later: Tracking the Implementation of the TRACED Act

FCC Adopts Previously Proposed SHAKEN/STIR Rules

Two weeks ago, we reported that the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) had proposed new rules relating to the implementation of SHAKEN/STIR call authentication protocols as a part of the Commission’s ongoing efforts to put the TRACED Act into practice. At the time, the FCC announced that it would vote on whether or not to officially… Continue reading FCC Adopts Previously Proposed SHAKEN/STIR Rules

New Proposed FCC Order Continues Implementation of STIR/SHAKEN

Last week, Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Ajit Pai released a proposed Second Report and Order relating to the implementation of STIR/SHAKEN call authentication protocols as mandated by last year’s TRACED Act. According to the fact sheet that the FCC released, the order would do the following, if adopted: Require voice service providers to either… Continue reading New Proposed FCC Order Continues Implementation of STIR/SHAKEN

FCC Approves Safe Harbors for Phone Companies Who Block Calls

As part of its ongoing efforts to implement the TRACED Act, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has approved new safe harbors for phone companies that implement call blocking technologies. These safe harbors come in response to concerns from phone service providers that the technology used to block unwanted robocalls could also inadvertently block legitimate calls,… Continue reading FCC Approves Safe Harbors for Phone Companies Who Block Calls