On October 14, 2021, the Wireline Competition Bureau (“Bureau”) released a Public Notice announcing the adoption of a Protective Order for Robocall Mitigation Program Descriptions, which certain providers that have not fully implemented STIR/SHAKEN are required to file in the Robocall Mitigation Database. The Bureau largely adopted the Protective Order proposed in May, with the following substantive changes:
- Clarifying that the labeling provisions in the Protective Order only apply to future filings in the Database. Providers who had previously submitted confidential documents to the Database are not required to re-file, even if they do not bear the labels set forth in the Protective order.
- Clarifying that filings in the Database are considered “public by default” and will only be treated as confidential upon request. This means that unreacted information in non-confidential robocall mitigation plans and information submitted to the Database can be viewed by the public. In addition, and in accordance with the FCC’s typical treatment of confidential and redacted information, the Bureau reminds providers that overly redacted filings and over broad confidentiality requests are not appropriate and the FCC reserves the right to initiate a review of all filings at its own request to rectify improper redactions or confidentially requests.
Please Contact Us if you have any questions.