FCC Cracks Down on Robocall Enablers with Number Tracking Rules
Published Date: 5/8/2026
Proposed Rule
Summary
The FCC wants to stop illegal robocalls by tightening rules on how phone numbers are used and shared, especially by companies that resell numbers. This affects phone service providers and resellers, who’ll need to better track and report their customers. Comments on these changes are open until early July 2026, signaling possible new rules and costs ahead for the industry.
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Analyzed Economic Effects
7 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 6 costs, 0 mixed.
Limit Resale to a Single Level
The FCC seeks comment on prohibiting resale of numbering resources beyond a single level, meaning resellers could only provide retail service to their own end users and not act as wholesalers. The NPRM asks whether to hold upstream providers and downstream resellers jointly and severally responsible for violations and whether contractual or regulatory means could enforce such a limitation.
New Certification Filings for Number Holders
If you are a service provider that receives phone numbers directly from the NANPA, or you resell phone numbers, the FCC proposes you must file robocall-related certifications in the FCC electronic docket. Current providers would have to file within 30 days of the rule's effective date, and new applicants must file at least 30 days before requesting numbers or beginning resale. Certifications would be tied to Operating Company Numbers (OCNs) for providers and FCC Form 499 Filer IDs for resellers and must also be submitted to the NANPA when requesting initial numbering resources.
Revamped NRUF Reporting Categories
The FCC proposes changing the NRUF (FCC Form 502) reporting rules by splitting the current 'intermediate' number category into three subcategories: intermediate assigned, intermediate other, and intermediate available. Providers of record would have to identify resellers on Form 502 and include reseller contact info, FCC Form 499 Filer IDs, and, if available, OCNs. The provider of record would be responsible for obtaining the necessary information from resellers and NRUFs deemed deficient if they fail to do so.
Possible NRUF Filing Duty for Resellers
The FCC seeks comment on requiring resellers of telephone numbers to file their own NRUF reports and to categorize resold numbers under the proposed intermediate subcategories. The NPRM also asks about remedies if resellers fail to file, including withholding additional numbering resources from affiliated entities or from wholesale providers supplying those numbers.
Counting Intermediate Assigned Numbers Toward 75%
The FCC seeks comment on changing the 75% numbering resource utilization calculation (used to determine eligibility for additional numbers) to include 'intermediate assigned' numbers, not just assigned numbers. Currently, the 75% threshold only counts assigned numbers.
Foreign Ownership Certification Requirement
The FCC proposes that all service providers receiving numbering resources directly from the NANPA, and resellers of telephone numbers, must certify compliance with specified foreign ownership reporting rules (citing Sec. 1.80003(a),(j),(l), 22.5, 24.404(b), 63.18(h),(i), and 90.115). Existing holders would have 30 days from the effective date to comply with this certification requirement.
Mandatory ALTSPID Entries to Aid Porting
The FCC proposes directing the Local Number Portability Administrator to require mandatory entries in the ALTSPID field of the NPAC (local number portability database) when a reseller relationship exists for a ported number. This change is intended to improve visibility into reseller relationships and help consumers port numbers if a reseller stops operating.
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