Media Contact: 
Will Wiquist
will.wiquist@fcc.gov

For Immediate Release

FCC ACCELERATES ACTION AGAINST ILLEGAL ROBOCALL GATEWAY FACILITATOR 
  -- 
WASHINGTON, April 3, 2023—The FCC’s Enforcement Bureau today accelerated its robocall blocking efforts against voice service provider One Eye LLC, which continues to facilitate illegal calls from overseas as a gateway provider and flout FCC warnings to cease carrying unlawful traffic.  The Bureau issued its first ever “initial determination order” which moves the company one step closer to being mandatorily cut off from connecting with other providers.  The Bureau has already advised other providers that they may cut off traffic from One Eye, as well as issued a warning to the company.  The next step, if One Eye fails to respond and begin actively combatting – rather than supporting – illegal robocalls, would be an FCC order requiring all immediate downstream providers block all traffic from One Eye. 

FCC Leadership: 
Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel: “We will not tolerate providers who actively support scammers by bringing in illegal calls from abroad. We will strike back with aggressive new tools. Today, marks the first time we use them—but it won’t be the last.”

Enforcement Bureau: 
Chief Loyaan Egal: “The Enforcement Bureau has established quite a menu of actions to combat scammers and the providers that give them life.  Today’s reality in robocall enforcement is more than fines on the robocallers and admonishments to their providers.  We now have additional, impactful tools that can go so far as starving a provider of its fundamental need for connectivity if it refuses to protect consumers, especially here where One Eye as a gateway provider is facilitating illegal robocalls from overseas that are targeting consumers in the United States.  Playing the robocall game comes at a cost.” 

How We Got Here
One Eye was set up by its owner, Prince Anand, after its predecessor entity PZ/Illum Telecommunication received a cease-and-desist letter from the Enforcement Bureau.  Once FCC investigators found that One Eye continued its predecessor’s practice of transmitting illegal robocall campaigns, it was the target of last month’s “K4 Notice” to encourage other providers to refrain from carrying this traffic.  Today, the Bureau takes the next step by laying the legal groundwork to require blocking of traffic from One Eye.  This is the first so-called “initial determination order” which makes the initial determination that One Eye has violated FCC call authentication rules.  While One Eye will have a chance to respond, the Bureau stands ready to issue the blocking order – and to closely monitor the company and any further attempts by company owners to evade accountability and their robocall mitigation responsibilities. 

The Bigger Picture: 
Chairwoman Rosenworcel established the FCC’s Robocall Response Team to serve as an FCC staff working group to combat the unyielding menace of illegal spoofed, or scam, robocalls.  The team pulls together expertise from across the agency to leverage the talents of enforcers, attorneys, policy makers, engineers, economists, and outreach experts.

Getting Results:
· Blocking active robocall scam campaigns by issuing first-of-their-kind actions:
o 99% drop in auto warranty scam robocalls after an FCC action;
o 88% month-to-month drop in student loan scam robocalls;
o Halted predatory mortgage robocalls targeting homeowners nationwide;
· Fining companies record-breaking amounts for illegal robocalls and spoofing;
· Closing gateways used by international robocallers to reach Americans’ phones;
· Widespread implementation of STIR/SHAKEN caller ID authentication standards;
· Working with industry to traceback illegal calls to their sources;
· Ensuring voice service providers meet FCC robocall mitigation requirements; 
· Signing robocall investigation partnerships with 44 states and international partners; 
· Establishing first-of-their-kind regulations targeting scam text messaging; and
· Launched the Robocall Mitigation Database to monitor STIR/SHAKEN compliance.

###

Media Relations: (202) 418-0500 / ASL: (844) 432-2275 / Twitter: @FCC / www.fcc.gov 

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).