FCC tackles a thorny robocall problem—how to verify caller ID on old landlines

Despite industry opposition, FCC could require caller ID auth on non-IP networks.

The Federal Communications Commission is hoping to solve one of the thorniest problems in the fight against robocalls: how to verify caller ID on older landlines that don't use Internet Protocol (IP) technology.

The FCC already requires phone companies to implement STIR/SHAKEN caller ID authentication tech on the IP portions of their voice networks. But due to technology limitations, STIR/SHAKEN requirements haven't applied to the older TDM-based networks generally used with copper landlines.

The FCC is now investigating how best to tackle this problem in a draft Notice of Inquiry released last week by Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel. The FCC is scheduled to vote on issuing the Notice of Inquiry at its October 27 meeting.

The FCC said it already sought comment on caller ID authentication for non-IP networks earlier this year, asking among other things, "whether we should require all providers to adopt a non-IP caller ID authentication solution." The responses "reflected interest in this subject from a broad array of stakeholders with divergent views on the best path forward."

The new Notice of Inquiry will "seek more focused comment on caller ID authentication technology for non-IP networks and how best to address this remaining gap in our caller ID authentication scheme."

Phone companies don’t want new rules

Among other things, the FCC will seek comment on what legal authority it can use to implement rules for non-IP caller ID authentication.

Phone companies don't want new requirements for older landlines, arguing that the industry is upgrading to IP anyway. Lobby group USTelecom "argues that requiring implementation of a non-IP authentication solution would be resource-intensive and 'detract from other, more fruitful efforts'—namely, ubiquitous IP network technology that in turn would enable end-to-end STIR/SHAKEN implementation," the FCC said.

Any attempt by Rosenworcel to issue strict rules for non-IP networks would require Republican support as long as the FCC continues to lack a Democratic majority.

Currently, FCC rules "require providers using older forms of network technology to either upgrade their networks to IP or actively work to develop a caller ID authentication solution that is operational on non-IP networks." The Notice of Inquiry will "seek comment on two standards for caller ID authentication on non-IP networks developed by the Alliance for Telecommunications Industry Solutions (ATIS)."

"Do these standards adequately address non-IP technology throughout the entire call path; in other words, do they resolve issues around non-IP voice service providers, non-IP intermediate providers, and non-IP interconnection?" the Notice of Inquiry asks.

Out-of-band vs. in-band

With STIR/SHAKEN, Caller ID information is contained "in-band," or within an IP call's SIP message. The two possible standards for non-IP networks include one that's out-of-band and another that's in-band.

In the proposed out-of-band approach for non-IP networks, caller ID information is "transmitted over the Internet, 'out-of-band'—that is, separate from the network signaling used to transmit the call itself," the FCC said. "In the most obvious example, the originating voice service provider places the information in a secure location on the Internet... when it originates the call; the terminating voice service provider can then retrieve the information to verify the caller ID information when it terminates the call."

By contrast, the in-band approach can "convey some caller ID authentication information over the non-IP portions of the phone network in-band along with the call," the FCC said. In this method, "the originating voice service provider comes to an agreement with the subsequent provider in the call path on how to share, within the components of a non-IP call, information about what it knows about the caller and its right to use the phone number along with the call."

The FCC cited ATIS as saying the in-band and out-of-band standards "are not mutually exclusive and that a combination of both solutions could be used by a single provider within its network or by several providers across a given call path." The FCC will seek comment on that view.

The FCC will additionally seek comment on the pros and cons of each standard and on whether additional standards are required. The FCC also wants information on implementation costs, possible security concerns, compatibility with STIR/SHAKEN, and other topics related to the in-band and out-of-band approaches.

Rules for older landlines may be worth it

Due to the ongoing transition to IP networks, the FCC says one possible approach is to forgo any caller ID authentication requirement for non-IP networks and instead take more steps to speed up the IP transition. However, the draft Notice of Inquiry says new rules for non-IP networks may be worth it for consumers even if those new rules slow down IP upgrades:

Even if requiring a non-IP solution now slows the future IP transition, consumers today face the problem of illegal robocalls, and caller ID authentication represents a key part of the Commission's—and Congress's—plan for combatting illegal robocalls. To that end, we seek comment on the current status of the IP transition and whether the complete IP transition is likely to occur on a compressed enough timetable to ensure that all people can benefit from the protections offered by ubiquitous caller ID authentication deployment.

Despite predictions over a decade ago that the IP transition could be completed by 2018, it's still unclear how long older landlines will last. The FCC's draft Notice of Inquiry said it has "received comment in this docket contending that there remains significant work to be done before the transition to an all-IP voice network is complete."

For example, a full IP transition may require actions "that are not commercially viable" for phone companies, such as "extensive network overhauls in sparsely populated regions," the FCC said. The FCC will seek comment on the IP transition's status, expected completion date, and whether that "timeframe counsel[s] promoting non-IP caller ID authentication in the interim, before the IP transition is complete, given the consumer harms stemming from illegal robocalls."

FCC tackles a thorny robocall problem—how to verify caller ID on old landlines

Recommended Comments

There are no comments to display.

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Add a comment...

× Pasted as rich text. Paste as plain text instead

Only 75 emoji are allowed.

× Your link has been automatically embedded. Display as a link instead

× Your previous content has been restored. Clear editor

× You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

Insert image from URL

Sign In

FCC tackles a thorny robocall problem—how to verify caller ID on old landlines

Despite industry opposition, FCC could require caller ID auth on non-IP networks.

Phone companies don’t want new rules

User Feedback

Recommended Comments

Join the conversation

Recently Browsing 0 members

nsane.down

News

Browse

Activity