The FCC is cracking down on carriers to combat the persistent spam call problem. The Commission wants to strengthen existing "Know-Your-Customer" rules, requiring customers to provide more identifying information when signing up or renewing service—including their name, address, government ID, and alternative phone numbers.

Carriers have been neglecting their existing KYC duties, which already require them to know their customers and drop those who use networks for illegal activities. The FCC is now seeking input on how to punish carriers who violate these rules, with penalties calibrated to match the scale of illegal calls they permit through their systems.

Beyond stricter verification, the FCC wants carriers to actively block any spam calls they detect and provide callers with more identifying information through protocols like STIR/SHAKEN. Google added spam call warnings to Android's phone app back in 2016, yet the problem continues to plague consumers nationwide.

The FCC's multi-pronged approach targets both the source of spam calls through stricter KYC requirements and forces carriers to take responsibility for blocking fraudulent traffic on their networks.