Do you get frequent annoying robocalls? AT&T brags that it has blocked its billionth unwanted robocall using a new program that detects them via network data analysis. Proposed FCC rules could help all carriers take action to stop the calls.
In recent weeks, the AT&T program has been averaging 12 million blocked calls per weekday, the company reports. It blocks the calls where its business contacts allows it to do so. If newly proposed FCC rules go into effect, all telecom carriers would get even more flexibility to target and stop robocalls.
The AT&T fraud management team and AT&T big data scientists created the system. It examines more than 1.5 billion calls each day for patterns that indicate robocallers. It then drills down on suspicious activity that may be illegal or forbidden. One example is multiple short-duration calls to numbers on the National Do Not Call list.
AT&T staff examines a preliminary list of suspected robocallers daily. They conduct further research to avoid suspending legitimate automated calls, such as school districts or others who send large volumes of recorded messages.
The FCC provides resources for consumers who want to stop robocalls: FCC resources
