Tech

US hits anti-robocall milestone but annoying calls won’t stop any time soon

Two people communicate via tin cans connected by string, except one is a cartoon robot.

Enlarge (credit: Aurich Lawson | Getty Images )

The nation’s largest phone companies have met a federal deadline to deploy a new anti-robocall technology, but unwanted calls and scams will continue to be an annoying problem for Americans for the foreseeable future.

Federal Communications Commission Acting Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel announced Wednesday that “the largest voice service providers are now using STIR/SHAKEN caller ID authentication standards in their IP networks, in accordance with the [June 30] deadline set by the FCC. This widespread implementation helps protect consumers against malicious spoofed robocalls and helps law enforcement track bad actors. ”

STIR/SHAKEN was deployed by large mobile carriers AT& T , Verizon, T-Mobile , and US Cellular. In March, the particular FCC denied petitions for a deadline extension from Verizon and ALL OF US Cellular, saying that “the petitioners have failed to meet typically the high standard of ‘undue hardship. ‘” The Verizon petition was limited to a small portion of its fiber-based home phone network.

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