The FCC has adopted a Report and Order establishing the first regulations targeted at preventing scam text messages sent to consumers. Mobile service providers will be required to block, at the network level, certain robotext messages that are highly likely to be illegal. Additionally, to ensure that erroneous blocking is quickly remedied, providers will be required to maintain a point of contact for texters to report erroneously blocked texts.
A Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking was also adopted that proposes to implement additional protections for consumers, such as requiring terminating providers to block texts from a sender after they have been notified by the FCC that the sender is sending illegal texts. Comment deadlines will be set once the FNPRM is published in the Federal Register.
