Targeting And Eliminating Unlawful Text Messages

The Federal Communications Commission seeks to establish a new information collection associated with Targeting and Eliminating Unlawful Text Messages, Rules and Regulations Implementing the Telephone Consumer Protection Act of 1991, CG Docket No. 21-402, CG Docket No. 02-278, Report and Order and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, FCC 23-21, (rel. Mar. 17, 2023) (Text Blocking Report and Order). Text message-based scams can include links to well-designed phishing websites that appear identical to the website of a legitimate company and can fool a victim into providing personal or financial information. Texted links can also load unwanted software onto a device, including malware that steals passwords, credentials, or other personal information. The Federal Communications Commission (Commission) is therefore, for the first time, requiring all mobile wireless providers to block certain text messages that are highly likely to be illegal, so that all subscribers have a basic level of protection. In the Text Blocking Report and Order, adopted on March 16, 2023 and released on March 17, 2023, the Commission is requiring mobile wireless providers to block certain text messages that are highly likely to be illegal. The Commission is requiring mobile wireless providers to block—at the network level—texts purporting to be from North American Numbering Plan (NANP) numbers on a reasonable Do-Not-Originate (DNO) list, which include numbers that purport to be from invalid, unallocated, or unused numbers, and NANP numbers for which the subscriber to the number has requested that texts purporting to originate from that number be blocked. Currently, the Commission requires gateway providers to block voice calls purporting to originate on a reasonable DNO list, under section 47 CFR § 64.1200(o) of the Commission’s rules, but this is the first time that the Commission has required mobile wireless providers to block texts. The Commission is also ensuring that any erroneous blocking can be quickly remedied by requiring mobile wireless providers and other entities to maintain a point of contact for texters to report erroneously blocked texts.

The latest form for Targeting And Eliminating Unlawful Text Messages expires 2027-02-28 and can be found here.

TARGETING AND ELIMINATING UNLAWFUL TEXT MESSAGES

Federal Enterprise Architecture: General Government - Central Fiscal Operations