FCC Targets Illegal Robocalls With Provider Removals and New Scorecard Proposal

The Federal Communications Commission is taking a two-pronged approach to its ongoing fight against illegal robocalls, removing 14 voice service providers from U.S. networks while also proposing a new consumer-facing tool designed to evaluate how effectively providers are combating illegal robocalls. 

On September 2, 2026, the FCC removed 14 companies from its Robocall Mitigation Database after they failed to correct deficiencies in their filings. The action effectively cuts the providers off from U.S. telephone networks because other voice service providers and intermediate providers are required to stop accepting their traffic.

On the same day, FCC Chairman Brendan Carr announced a proposal for a Robocall Scorecard that could give consumers greater visibility into how individual voice providers are addressing illegal robocalls.

Together, the actions signal that the FCC is placing pressure on providers at multiple levels, combining enforcement against companies that fail to meet existing requirements with greater public scrutiny of the industry’s robocall mitigation efforts.

14 Providers Removed From Robocall Mitigation Database

The FCC’s Enforcement Bureau removed the 14 providers after they failed to address deficiencies identified in their Robocall Mitigation Database certifications.

The companies had previously been directed to correct their filings and explain why they should remain in the database. According to the FCC, the providers either failed to respond or did not take meaningful steps to bring their filings into compliance.

Following their removal, U.S. voice service providers and intermediate providers were directed to begin blocking calls directly from the affected companies within two days.

The action carries significant consequences because inclusion in the Robocall Mitigation Database is necessary for providers seeking to connect their traffic to U.S. telephone networks.

Why the Robocall Mitigation Database Matters

The FCC established the Robocall Mitigation Database as part of its broader effort to reduce illegal robocalls and caller ID spoofing.

Voice service providers must submit certifications describing their compliance with the FCC’s robocall prevention requirements. This includes information regarding implementation of STIR/SHAKEN caller ID authentication across IP-based portions of their networks and the robocall mitigation measures they have adopted.

STIR/SHAKEN technology helps authenticate caller ID information and makes it more difficult for bad actors to disguise the origin of calls through spoofed numbers.

The FCC has increasingly treated accurate and complete database filings as an important part of its enforcement strategy. Providers that fail to satisfy the requirements risk having their certifications removed, which can ultimately prevent their calls from being accepted by other providers.

FCC Proposes Consumer Robocall Scorecard

The enforcement action was not the FCC’s only robocall-related announcement on September 2.

The agency also sought public comment on creating a Robocall Scorecard that would provide consumers with information about how effectively voice service providers are protecting customers from illegal robocalls.

The proposed Scorecard would allow consumers to compare participating retail voice providers based on their robocall mitigation efforts and results

The FCC is considering how the Scorecard should be structured, what providers should be evaluated, and which metrics would offer consumers the most useful picture of performance.

Among the ideas under consideration are both conduct-based and outcome-based measures. Conduct-based metrics could evaluate the steps providers take to prevent illegal traffic, while outcome-based measures could focus on the results those practices produce.

The Commission is also seeking input on how to make the ratings understandable and accessible while ensuring that the underlying data is relevant, reliable, and presented with appropriate limitations.

Robocall Compliance Faces Greater Scrutiny

The two developments show how the FCC’s robocall strategy is expanding beyond simply pursuing the originators of illegal calls.

Providers throughout the call path are increasingly expected to maintain compliant filings, understand the traffic moving across their networks, and demonstrate that they are taking meaningful steps to prevent illegal robocalls from reaching consumers.

At the same time, the proposed Scorecard could make those efforts more visible to the public.

For voice service providers, the message is becoming increasingly clear. Robocall mitigation is not simply a filing obligation. Compliance with RMD requirements can affect a provider’s ability to participate in U.S. networks, while the proposed Scorecard could make the effectiveness of its robocall mitigation practices more visible to consumers.