NCTA, CTIA Back USTelecom Industry Traceback Redesignation

Redesignate USTelecom's Industry Traceback Group (ITG) as the registered consortium to head industry efforts to trace the origin of suspected unlawful calls, said NCTA and CTIA in comments posted Monday in docket 20-22 (see 2204200018). USTelecom was first designated in 2020 and redesignated in 2021. The ITG, established in 2015, "has played a central role in combatting illegal robocalls," said USTelecom. The ITG has "successfully fulfilled" its mandate since 2020, CTIA commented: It "remains best qualified to serve as the registered consortium." The ITG's "neutral framework consistently and effectively promotes the type of widespread participation necessary for success," the group said, citing "significant growth in industry participation." The FCC received a letter of intent from ZipDX expressing interest in being designated as the registered consortium in May. It's the second time ZipDX submitted a letter and called itself the "most competent applicant." ZipDX raised concerns about the ITG's potential for "associated intrinsic bias" because of its funding sources: "While there may be no explicit evidence of such allegiances, it is an obvious consideration." The FCC Enforcement Bureau said in its 2021 order redesignating the ITG that its "multi-member structure ensures neutrality and reflects openness" (see 2108250081). NTCA, which has several members that sit on the ITG's executive committee, said USTelecom "continues to build on its efforts to combat robocalls" and initiated nearly 2,900 tracebacks between January and November 2021. It "commend[ed] ZipDX’s participation in traceback efforts and its commitment to curbing illegal robocalls" but noted choosing another consortium would "hamper the industry’s ongoing and important efforts to protect consumers." The ITG’s record "speaks for itself concerning neutrality through consistent and even-handed implementation," USTelecom said.