Media Contact: 
Neil Grace, (202) 418-0506
neil.grace@fcc.gov
For Immediate Release
FCC GRANTS EMERGENCY WAIVER TO HELP PROTECT 
JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTERS FROM THREATS
  --
WASHINGTON, March 3, 2017 – The Federal Communications Commission today issued an
emergency temporary waiver to Jewish Community Centers and telecommunications carriers that 
serve them to allow these entities and law enforcement agencies to access the caller-ID 
information of threatening and harassing callers. 
“This agency must and will do whatever it can to combat the recent wave of bomb threats against 
Jewish Community Centers,” said FCC Chairman Ajit Pai. “I am pleased that we are taking 
quick action to address this issue and hope that this waiver will help Jewish Community Centers, 
telecommunications carriers, and law enforcement agencies track down the perpetrators of these 
crimes.” 
FCC rules generally require phone companies to respect a calling party’s request to have its 
caller-ID information blocked from the party receiving the call.  A waiver of this rule may help 
the community centers and law enforcement identify abusive and potentially dangerous callers.
Earlier this week, U.S. Senator Charles Schumer of New York requested such a waiver, 
indicating that there have been 69 such incidents involving 54 JCCs in 27 different states since 
the beginning of 2017.   
The Commission has issued such waivers in the past, but rarely.  Last year, the Commission
provided a limited waiver to a school in New York State. Today’s action comes in the form of an 
order from the FCC’s Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau.  In addition, the Commission 
has issued a public notice soliciting comment on whether a permanent waiver would be 
appropriate.
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Office of Media Relations: (202) 418-0500
TTY: (888) 835-5322
Twitter: @FCC
www.fcc.gov/office-media-relations
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).