Cybersecurity Policy Report, FCC Proposes Requiring Providers to Deliver Caller Names to Consumers, (Oct 29, 2025)

By Lynn Stanton

The FCC yesterday voted unanimously to propose rule changes aimed at ensuring consumers have the information about calling parties that they need to decide whether to answer calls and sought input on preventing foreign-originated calls from using U.S. area codes, which misleads consumers into thinking the call originated domestically.

The further notice of proposed rulemaking (FNPRM) in CG dockets 17-59, 02-278, and 25-307 and WC docket 17-97 proposes requiring providers “to give consumers accurate caller name and other information, including call branding information, ensuring they no longer have to guess whether a call is one they want to answer. The Commission further proposes ways for originating voice service providers to verify that the caller name and other transmitted information is accurate and secure so that consumers can trust it,” the FCC said in a press release.

“In addition, the proposal seeks to improve call blocking analytics by considering whether a call originated from outside of the United States,” the press release says.

“The proceeding also proposes to simplify, streamline, or eliminate some outdated requirements that technology and calling practices have overtaken. Finally, through this Notice the Commission announces its intent to dismiss some older petitions for reconsideration and applications for review related to the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA),” it adds.

During the presentation of the item, Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau (CGB) Chief Ed Bartholome said the item’s proposals would enable consumers “to regain control of their phones by ensuring they no longer have to guess whether a call is one they want to pick up.”

Michelle Branigan, an attorney adviser in CGB’s Consumer Policy Division, said research had found that providing caller ID information can increase consumer willingness to answer calls by over 70%.

She said the item’s proposals would “prohibit spoofing of U.S. phone numbers on foreign-originated calls.”

In her separate statement, Commissioner Anna Gomez said, “Robocalls are the number one complaint that consumers raise to the FCC. Not only are robocalls an annoying nuisance, but they also open a door to fraud.”

She added, “Unfortunately, there is no one solution because there are many sources of unauthorized robocalls, the tools used to perpetrate them are varied, and the techniques scammers employ keep evolving. So, we continuously propose and implement new rules to fight this scourge and ultimately protect consumers. Today, we seek comment on new tools such as Rich Call Data as well as propose modifications to existent rules.

“I’d like to thank the Office of the Chairman for working with me to improve the assumptions with which we started this draft, retain rules that continue to protect consumers, and incorporate questions that consider all angles when we propose to modify a rule so that we do not lose the original goal of the rules — to protect consumers from robocalls. Thank you also to the Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau for helping us add further information about the proposals we put forth today,” Commissioner Gomez continued.

Commissioner Olivia Trusty said the item took action against robocalls by seeking input on providing consumers with better information and by proposing steps to combat robocalls originating outside the U.S.

“I am hopeful that by giving providers better access to information about these calls, they will be better equipped to respond, including through the use of reasonable analytics to voluntarily block suspicious traffic,” she said.

“Finally, the item seeks comment on ensuring that our implementation of the TCPA remains current and aligned with consumer interests. For example, while the FCC recently adopted rules to make it easier for consumers to revoke consent to receive robocalls, some stakeholders, including those in the financial sector, public utilities, and consumer advocates, have raised concerns about unintended consequences, such as lost fraud alerts or emergency notifications. I am glad that we are taking a closer look at these and other issues as we continue refining our approach,” Commissioner Trusty added.

Chairman Brendan Carr said the FCC was “looking at every point in the lifecycle of illegal robocalls.”

He spoke with approval of the possibility that deterring the use of U.S. area codes for foreign-originated calls and requiring increased blocking of foreign-originated calls might encourage call centers to onshore their operations.

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