Last week, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) issued a proposed rule to apply caller ID authentication standards to text messaging.
The proposed rules would require providers to find and actively block illegal texts before reaching consumers’ cell phones. The agency said the move would fight malicious robotext campaigns.
“Recently, scam text messaging has become a growing threat to consumers’ wallets and privacy,” FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel said. “More can be done to address this growing problem, and today, we are formally starting an effort to take a serious, comprehensive, and fresh look at our policies for fighting unwanted robotexts.”
The proposed rule requires mobile wireless providers to block texts, at the network level, that purport to be from invalid, unallocated or unused numbers, and numbers on a Do-Not-Originate (DNO) list. The proposal also seeks input on other actions the FCC might take to address illegal texts, including enhanced consumer education.
The proposed rule said the FCC received 15,300 consumer complaints about unwanted texts in 2021 and registered 8,500 complaints in 2022 through June 30.
“Unwanted text messages present the same problems as unwanted calls,” the proposed rule said, “they invade consumer privacy and are vehicles for consumer fraud and identity theft.”
Although the proposed rule also identifies scam and fraudulent texts, the phrase “unwanted texts” is commonly used and not defined. Whether texts must reach an illegal stage to be subject to the rule, rather than simply a consumer not wanting a dealership to text the consumer about a service appointment, is not addressed.
In the proposed rule, the FCC requests public comments on numerous areas. In one section, the FCC seeks comment on the need for mandatory text blocking.
“Consumers can ignore a potentially unwanted or illegal phone call and have it sent directly to voice mail,” the proposed rule said. “Text messages, however, can be harder to ignore and are more often opened immediately.”
Additionally, the proposed rule said the FCC tentatively concluded providers should implement caller ID authentication for text messages.
“We believe such a requirement would spur standards groups to complete development of standards promptly,” the proposed rule said. “Do commenters agree?”
