In the ongoing battle against illegal robocalls, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has ramped up its efforts, targeting One Owl Telecom, a voice service provider that has allegedly violated FCC call blocking rules. The FCC’s Enforcement Bureau is taking stern measures to combat these illegal robocalls, and their recent actions are a significant step towards this goal.
Why the FCC is Cracking Down
One Owl Telecom is suspected of serving as a gateway provider for international robocalls, inundating consumers with unauthorized prerecorded messages. These messages often falsely claimed to be from “ACM Trading LLC” and requested consumers to confirm fictitious orders. The Industry Traceback Group traced these calls to overseas origins, with One Owl acting as either the initiator or gateway provider.
Notably, One Owl Telecom is closely related to two other entities: Illum Telecommunication Limited and One Eye LLC. These entities share personnel, IP addresses, and customers and have displayed a disregard for FCC rules. The Enforcement Bureau will continue to monitor One Owl Telecom and its affiliated entities closely.
The FCC’s Stance
Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel is resolute in her commitment to eradicate illegal robocalls, and she emphasizes the importance of eliminating these scams. The FCC’s strong rules require gateway providers involved in international illegal robocalls to actively participate in the fight against scam robocalls.
What’s Happening Now
The Enforcement Bureau has issued an initial determination order against One Owl Telecom, signaling the possibility of mandatory blocking from other providers. This fate is similar to what its predecessor entity, One Eye, faced. If One Owl Telecom does not respond promptly and take action against illegal robocalls, the FCC will direct downstream providers to block all traffic from this entity.
Background and Enforcement
The Enforcement Bureau has issued a K4 Notice, notifying U.S.-based voice service providers about significant volumes of unlawful robocalls linked to One Owl Telecom. A cease-and-desist letter was also sent to One Owl, demanding that they investigate and block the suspected illegal traffic while reporting the results to the FCC. Unfortunately, One Owl has not responded, and the FCC is unaware of any efforts taken by the company to address the issue.
Previous actions have been taken against entities closely related to One Owl Telecom, including cease-and-desist letters and compliance orders. The FCC has strengthened its defense mechanisms against gateway providers through the Gateway Provider Order, increasing their obligations to monitor their networks and imposing consequences on providers that fail to do so.
The Bigger Picture
Chairwoman Rosenworcel established the FCC’s Robocall Response Team to combat the menace of illegal robocalls effectively. The team harnesses expertise from various departments to address this issue comprehensively.
Getting Results
The FCC has been actively combating illegal robocalls by blocking active scam campaigns, imposing hefty fines on violators, and closing gateways used by international robocallers to reach American phones. They’ve also pushed for the widespread implementation of STIR/SHAKEN caller ID authentication standards and worked with industry partners to trace illegal calls to their source. Furthermore, they’ve initiated partnerships with states and international entities to investigate robocalls effectively.
The fight against illegal robocalls continues, and the FCC remains committed to protecting consumers from these scams.
Stay updated on the latest developments in the battle against illegal robocalls. If you have concerns about robocalls or need legal assistance, don’t hesitate to contact our law office for guidance.
Source: FCC ACCELERATES ITS ILLEGAL ROBOCALL BLOCKING EFFORTS AGAINST GATEWAY PROVIDER | FCC