FCC Tightens STIR/SHAKEN Timeframe for Small Carriers

The FCC STIR/SHAKEN timeframe for small carriers has been adjusted to require implementation one year earlier than originally planned.

The action was taken, the regulator said because it has research indicating that a subset of small voice service providers is originating an increasing quantity of illegal robocalls. An earlier FCC report indicated that STIR/SHAKEN significantly reduced robocalls once implemented by larger carriers.

The technology is designed to reduce the effectiveness of illegal spoofing, enabling law enforcement to more easily identify bad actors, and to help voice service providers identify calls with illegally spoofed caller ID information before those calls reach their subscribers.

The FCC had initially granted voice service providers with 100,000 or fewer subscriber lines an extension until June 30, 2023, to implement the technology. Now small voice service providers that are not facilities-based will be required to implement STIR/SHAKEN in the IP portions of their networks no later than June 30, 2022.

Additionally, providers suspected of originating illegal robocalls will also be required to implement STIR/SHAKEN within 90 days of an Enforcement Bureau determination following a summary process.

“Robocalls are not just a nuisance. They’re a way that scammers . . . try to reach us with junk services we did not ask for, do not want, and do not need,” said FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel, in a prepared statement about the FCC STIR/SHAKEN timeframe change. “What this agency needs to do is find every way we can [to] stop these calls from getting through. Today’s action does just that by requiring more providers implement STIR/SHAKEN in short order.”