Media Contact: 
Will Wiquist, (202) 418-0509
will.wiquist@fcc.gov
For Immediate Release
CHAIRMAN WHEELER STATEMENT ON PROGRESS TOWARD 
OFFERING CONSUMER ROBOCALL BLOCKING CHOICES
Following the Chairman’s Request, AT&T Commits to Offering Blocking Services and 
Leading Industry Strike Force to Further This Goal
  --
WASHINGTON, July 25, 2016 – Federal Communications Commission Chairman Tom Wheeler 
issued the following statement today on AT&T’s response to his letter calling for action on 
providing robocall-blocking services to consumers:
“I applaud AT&T for committing to make robocall-blocking technology available to its 
customers, as I requested in a letter to the company last week. Since giving consumers 
meaningful control over the calls and texts they receive will require collective action by the 
industry; I am gratified that AT&T will lead an industry strike force to develop an action plan for 
providing consumers with robust robocall-blocking solutions. Last week, I asked all the major 
phone companies to develop just such a plan; I strongly urge industry participants to join the
effort and to produce conclusions within 60 days.”
Last week, Chairman Wheeler sent letters to the CEOs of major wireless and wireline phone 
companies, calling on them to offer call-blocking services to their customers.  He also sent letters 
to intermediary carriers that connect robocallers to the consumer's phone company, reminding 
them of their responsibility to help facilitate the offering of blocking technologies. Last summer, 
the FCC made clear that there are no legal obstacles to carriers offering consumers robocall-
blocking services.  Some IP and mobile phone networks are already utilizing these services and 
the Commission is committed to doing everything it can to further empower consumers to control 
unwanted calls and texts.
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This is an unofficial announcement of Commission action.  Release of the full text of a Commission order 
constitutes official action.  See MCI v. FCC, 515 F.2d 385 (D.C. Cir. 1974).