FCC Speeds Stir/Shaken Deadline for Some Small Providers

The FCC ordered small voice service providers that aren’t facilities-based to implement Stir/Shaken in the IP portions of their networks by June 30. The old deadline was a year later. Facilities-based carriers still have until June 30, 2023. Commissioners OK’d the order 4-0, after unanimously approving a Further NPRM in May (see 2105200072). Friday's release targets the small players “most likely to be the source of illegal robocalls.” It cited “overwhelming record support and available evidence showing that nonfacilities-based small voice service providers are originating a large and disproportionate amount of robocalls.” Facilities-based carriers can still be required to implement Stir/Shaken earlier if the Enforcement Bureau “suspects” them of originating illegal robocalls and the company “fails to mitigate such traffic upon Bureau notice,” the FCC said. Those companies face a 90-day implementation deadline unless “sooner implementation is otherwise required,” the order said. “We close a gap in our current STIR/SHAKEN regime and, by targeting those providers most likely to be involved in illegal robocalling, we reap a substantial portion of the benefits offered … to Americans,” the FCC said.