The American Bankers Association yesterday expressed strong support for the Federal Communications Commission’s latest proposal to ensure that voice service providers in the path of a call take meaningful responsibility for keeping illegal calls off the U.S. calling network. Twelve other trade associations representing banks, credit unions and nondepository institutions co-signed the comment.
The proposal would require the “downstream” provider in the call’s pathway to collect certain information about the caller from the “upstream” provider — that is, the provider that originated or otherwise transmitted the call to the downstream provider — to better ensure each provider is transmitting only lawful calls.
The proposal also would require downstream providers to monitor upstream providers’ call traffic and compliance practices, and to refuse or discontinue service when the evidence shows that an upstream provider is facilitating illegal calls.
In addition, the proposal would strengthen the requirements for “A-level” and “B-level” attestations, citing data ABA previously provided demonstrating that originating providers are improperly assigning attestation levels. Under STIR/SHAKEN, calls are “signed” at origination with different levels of “attestation.” A call that receives an “A-level” attestation – the highest form of attestation – means the originating provider knows the caller and knows the caller has the legal right to the number that will be displayed in the recipient’s caller ID. If a call receives A-level attestation, it is eligible for vendors’ call branding designed to signal that the call is from a legitimate source, such as a green “checkmark.”
ABA expressed strong support for the FCC’s proposal to specify the criteria that originating providers must satisfy before providing an “attestation” level to a call.
“Our associations have long called for the commission to take action to ensure consumers can rely on the information displayed in the caller ID – i.e., that the name and number displayed accurately reflects who placed the call,” the associations said. “We commend the commission for issuing the proposal to stop illegal calls at every stage of the calling ecosystem.”
