“The commission announced on Wednesday that it would release data on the source of automatic robocalls and telemarketing appeals that could be used by people building “do not disturb” technology for phones”.
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This data is similar to the data released periodically by the Federal Trade Commission.
With the regular publication of the list, the FCC hopes to help app developers and existing “do-not-disturb” technologies create a more compelling and extensive database of numbers that can be blocked if consumers choose to.
The phone numbers will be made available on the commission’s Consumer Help Center website.
Over time, these self-reported call records should help carriers pinpoint the source of annoying (and illegal) callers. “This data will help improve do-not-disturb technologies so they can provide the best service for consumers”, said Alison Kutler, chief of the FCC’s Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau, which manages consumer complaints.
The news rules also gave consumers more ways to opt out of telemarketing calls, reiterated that customers can get the same protection from text messages and expanded the types of dialing tools that are covered under the law. “Do Not Disturb” technologies use this information to determine what numbers might be originating unwanted calls.
The FCC receives informal consumer complaints about unwanted robocalls and telemarketing calls.
The data is available here.
The data will be published weekly. As a result, not all fields in the spreadsheet will include data.
The FCC does not verify all of the facts alleged in these complaints.
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The FCC published its first list today, which includes entries from consumer complaints filed on or after October 1, 2015.
