Federal Communications Commission	FCC 26-17

STATEMENT OF
CHAIRMAN BRENDAN CARR

Re:	Combatting Illegal Robocalls through FCC Numbering Policies, Implementation of TRACED Act Section 6(a) — Knowledge of Customers by Entities with Access to Numbering Resources, Numbering Policies for Modern Communications, Telephone Number Requirements for IP-Enabled Service Providers, WC Docket Nos. 26-49, 20-67, 13-97, 07-243, Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (March 26, 2026)

Since I became Chairman, we have been taking a new approach to combatting illegal robocalls by tackling the problem at every point of the call path.  Today’s action supports our ongoing efforts to make it harder for bad actors to obtain numbering resources.  After all, if bad actors can’t get phone numbers, it’s a lot harder to generate illegal robocalls.
The Enforcement Bureau has found that the majority of its robocall investigations have involved resold numbers.  So today we are looking at how these actors are obtaining numbers and proposing ways to restrict them.  Specifically, we seek comment on restricting the resale of numbers to a single level to prevent the types of abuse we are seeing in the marketplace today.
With today’s action, we also build on our work from December by proposing to extend our robocall certification requirements to all service providers that receive numbering resources directly from the North American Numbering Plan Administrator, and also to resellers.  
Ultimately, our goal is to restore confidence in the nation’s voice networks.  Americans should be able to answer their phones without fear of being scammed or defrauded.  Today’s action moves us closer to that goal, and I look forward to continuing our work to stay ahead of the evolving tactics used by illegal robocallers.
For their great work on this item, I would like to thank Cara Voth, Jodie May, Ed Krachmer, Bill Andrle, Jonathan Lechter, Raphael Sznajder, John Pedersen, Maciej Wachalau, Rick Mallen, Derek Yeo, Michael Scott, Genesis Monserrate, Daniel Stepanicich, and Joseph Calascione.