Dozen Phone Companies Pledge New Tech To Fight Robocalls

Friday, August 23, 2019 at 9:21 AM

By Mike Perleberg and Ken Sain, 24/7 News Source

Indiana's attorney general is among those leading a new agreement with phone companies to stop annoying robocalls.

(Washington, D.C.) - A dozen of the nation's biggest phone companies are pledging to use new technology to spot and block robocalls. 

Officials estimate there were 4.7 billion of the annoying robocalls made to American phones in July alone. 

The promise announced Thursday is part of an agreement the phone companies made with 51 attorneys general. Indiana Attorney General Curtis Hill says phone companies are stepping up to the plate to be part of the solution.

“Collaboration will be a key component of our success going forward in stopping illegal robocalls. I am eager to continue working with our state, federal, and private-sector partners to improve the lives of all our citizens,” Attorney General Hill said.

The coalition of companies includes many of the largest telecom companies in the nation, such as AT&T, Bandwidth, CenturyLink, Charter, Comcast, Consolidated, Frontier, Sprint, T-Mobile, US Cellular, Verizon and Windstream. 

The agreement calls for the phone companies to implement call-blocking technology and provide free robocall blocking tools to consumers. It would also let people know if the incoming call is real or coming from a spoofed phone number. 

The companies do not have a deadline to implement the new technology, but are expected to do so as soon as practical. 

More from Local News


Events

Ken Maddin to Appear on Wheel of Fortune

The episode airs this week.

Bridge Deck Overlay Project to Begin on U.S. 52 in Brookville

The project will run into late August.

Town of Dillsboro Announces Sanitary Sewer Cleaning and Inspection Project

Work is scheduled to begin on Thursday, March 26.

Seven SEI Hoops Stars Earn All-State Honors

The recognition comes from the Indiana Basketball Coaches Association.

East Central's Mayer Named Hasbrook Family Leadership Award Recipient

The scholarship is administered through the IHSAA.

Batesville Teams Place at NASP State Tournament

Several area school teams have qualified for nationals.

On Air

Your Hometown Radio Station playing
Midland - Sunrise Tells The Story - EAGLE ONLY

Megan Moroney Am I OK 19:11
Justin Moore Lettin' The Night Roll 19:08
Travis Tritt I'm Gonna Be Somebody 19:04
Fox News Fox News National Newscast 19:02