The call blocking declaratory ruling and notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) were among the topics the American Financial Services Association (AFSA) recently engaged the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).
Authorities said the AFSA and other trade organizations expressed concerns with the declaratory ruling and NPRM, specifically the FCC’s shift from blocking illegal calls to blocking unwanted calls and the necessity for a challenge mechanism enabling companies to be notified that their calls are being blocked and have a procedure for getting them unblocked.
AFSA officials said the organization is concerned calls consumers want from businesses with whom they have a relationship could be blocked and the NPRM asks for comment on protections and remedies for callers whose calls are erroneously blocked.
Officials said the declaratory rule would allow phone carriers to block calls based on call analytics, noting as opposed to opting-in, customers would opt-out of the call blocking.
During its June 6 meeting, the FCC is expected to consider the Declaratory Ruling and Third Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking providing clarification and consider the Report and Order and Second Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking vacating its 2008 Leased Access Order – as a means of modernizing the existing leased access rules to reflect changes in the video programming market and propose to simplify the leased access rate formula. It will also consider modernization of the Commission’s rules to improve aviation safety, support the deployment of more advanced avionics technology, and increase the efficient use of limited spectrum resources.