USTelecom Consortium Put in Charge of Robocall Traceback Industry Work

USTelecom's Industry Traceback Group (ITG) is the official consortium for coordinating industry-led efforts to trace back the origin of suspected unlawful robocalls, the FCC Enforcement Bureau said Monday. The Traced Act directed the FCC to put together rules for a single consortium heading those private-led efforts, and the FCC in March adopted rules governing that consortium (see 2004170021). In the order appointing ITG, the bureau said it was the only applicant and is both neutral and competent to shepherd the efforts. “The message this sends to would be robocall scammers is loud and clear: we’ve got your number," USTelecom said, adding that it's "an important recognition of our technology, our commitment and our success fighting the scammers and spoofers who pollute our shared communications networks with these illegal robocalls." It said its team of wireline, wireless, VoIP and cable providers is "focused on tracing the source of illegal robocalls around the world and coordinating with federal and state enforcement agencies to bring criminals to justice. We’ve already shut down scams preying on vulnerable consumers during the pandemic. As the FCC’s registered traceback consortium, we intend to continue our laser-like scrutiny not just on robocall scammers, but the under the radar providers who let junk calls onto the network in the first place. We’re tracing back more calls every single day and ready to expand this work for consumers.” Nov. 15 is the deadline for voice service providers and ITG to update the FCC Enforcement Bureau on industry efforts July 27-Oct. 31 to trace the source of suspected unlawful robocalls, the bureau said in a public notice. The bureau's data collection is part of a Traced Act requirement the FCC annually submit a report to Congress on the status of such private-led efforts, it said.