Overview
- The proposal asks originating phone providers to collect at minimum a customer’s name, physical address, government‑issued ID number, and an alternate telephone number before activating or renewing service.
- Chairman Brendan Carr says tighter Know‑Your‑Customer rules would deter illegal robocallers and make it easier to trace abusive callers into U.S. phone networks.
- Domestic violence advocates and privacy groups warn the rule would block anonymous prepaid phones used by survivors, journalists, and others, and would force users to give up safety practices such as shelter or mail‑forwarding addresses.
- Small voice providers and privacy experts say the mandate would impose operational costs, create a central trove of sensitive records that heightens breach risk, and would not stop scammers who use stolen or synthetic IDs or offshore and encrypted services.
- The proposal is in the FCC’s public‑comment phase with initial comments due June 25 and reply comments due July 27, and opponents have filed multiple challenges raising safety, privacy, cost, and legal‑authority concerns.