A Call to Action: Stop the FCC's KYC Regime
Key takeaways
- Everyone knows the misery of scam calls, spoofed numbers, fake warranty pitches, fraudulent bank alerts, and automated political spam.
- The proposal is being sold as consumer protection, but the surveillance regime it would create is something else entirely.
- On April 30, 2026, the FCC adopted a Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking seeking stronger KYC rules for voice service providers.
Robocalls are really annoying. Everyone knows the misery of scam calls, spoofed numbers, fake warranty pitches, fraudulent bank alerts, and automated political spam. The FCC is correct to claim that illegal calls erode trust in the phone system and cost Americans time, money, and security. But this problem does not justify a dragnet solution. Under the guise of fighting robocallers, the FCC is now considering “Know Your Customer” rules that could force phone providers to collect identity information from ordinary people before they can acquire or renew service with a phone carrier.
The proposal is being sold as consumer protection, but the surveillance regime it would create is something else entirely.
On April 30, 2026, the FCC adopted a Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking seeking stronger KYC rules for voice service providers. The agency says possible measures include requiring providers to verify customer identities before enabling service, including name, address, government ID, and alternate phone numbers. The item was approved by Chairman Brendan Carr and Commissioners Gomez and Trusty.