Attorneys general take on robocalls

CONCORD — A group of 40 state attorneys general have joined an effort to stop or reduce bothersome and harmful robocalls.

The coalition of attorneys general formed after New Hampshire Attorney General Gordon J. MacDonald and North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein called for action against unwanted calls more than a year ago. 

The coalition is working with major telecom companies to identify technology that will assist in combatting illegal robocalls. A key focus has been the rapid increase in what’s known as “neighbor spoofing” — making calls commonly appear on a consumer’s caller ID with the same area code and local exchange as the consumer, in order to increase the likelihood that the consumer will answer the call.

“Robocalls are not only disruptive and bothersome, but they also allow scammers greater access and the ability to prey on our most vulnerable citizens,” said MacDonald. “That is why Attorney General Stein and I began working with attorneys general across the country more than a year ago to address this growing problem.”

“In order to see a true reduction in these calls, we must apply the most effective technology available, while providing greater public education, and taking appropriate enforcement action to reduce and eliminate these troubling calls. The coalition is actively engaging the telecom companies to identify and implement solutions as quickly as possible,” said MacDonald.

Since the multi-state group formed in December 2017, members have held in-depth meetings with several major telecom companies, which MacDonald said has led to greater information-sharing about the technological capabilities currently in existence or in development that could end those calls. 

Many of the states, including New Hampshire, also submitted comments to the Federal Communications Commission, encouraging the FCC to pass rules allowing voice service providers to block more illegally spoofed phone calls than what they had previously been able to do under prior FCC rules. 

MacDonald and his colleagues are also working to:

• Develop a detailed understanding of what is technologically feasible to minimize unwanted robocalls and illegal telemarking.

• Engage the major telecom companies to encourage them to expedite the best possible solutions for consumers.

• Determine whether states should make further recommendations to the FCC.

Attorneys General are participating from Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, District of Columbia, Florida, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin.