Phone companies can block robocalls by default starting today, FCC says

Enlarge (credit: Getty Images | MassimoVernicesole)

The Federal Communications Commission today voted to let phone companies block robocalls by default even when consumers have not opted in to robocall-blocking services.

The FCC said it “approved a Declaratory Ruling to affirm that voice service providers may, as the default, block unwanted calls based on reasonable call analytics, as long as their customers are informed and have the opportunity to opt out of the blocking.”

Phone providers already block robocalls on an opt-in basis, sometimes charging consumers for the blocking services. FCC Chairman Ajit Pai says the commission’s rules were vague as to whether robocall blocking is legal on an opt-out basis but that today’s ruling will fix that problem.