Phone giants must block robocalls with fancy signals next year
Published Date: 3/24/2025
Rule
Summary
Starting March 25, 2026, phone companies in the U.S. must block illegal robocalls using smart lists that stop calls that shouldn’t start. They also have to send a special signal when they block these calls, so everyone knows why the call didn’t go through. This new rule helps protect you from annoying and illegal robocalls without costing you extra.
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
All voice providers must block likely illegal calls
All U.S.-based voice service providers in the call path must block calls that are highly likely to be illegal using a "reasonable" do-not-originate (DNO) list. The rule allows providers to use their own reasonable lists (which may include invalid, unallocated, unused numbers and numbers a subscriber asked to block) and the Commission made this DNO-blocking requirement effective 90 days after publication of a notice of Office of Management and Budget approval in the Federal Register.
Callers get a uniform 'Network Blocked' code (SIP 603+)
When a provider blocks a call based on analytics, the originating caller must receive a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) code 603+ that indicates "Network Blocked" and includes required text fields with contact/redress information. Providers must implement SIP code 603+ and map it to ISUP code 21 no later than 12 months after publication of this Order in the Federal Register, and must stop using SIP codes 603, 607, or 608 for analytics-based blocking once 603+ is implemented (and in no event later than 12 months).
Providers get flexibility on what DNO lists to use
The Commission does not require a single national or minimum DNO list. Providers may use any DNO list so long as it is reasonable and updated, and may exclude certain numbers when limited by technical constraints. The rules specifically allow lists to include invalid, unallocated, unused numbers, subscriber-requested blocked numbers, inbound-only government numbers requested for inclusion, and private inbound-only numbers used in imposter scams when requested by the assignee.
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Key Dates
Department and Agencies
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