Insights

FCC’s Latest Robocall Crackdown: Four Enforcement Actions and What They Mean for Telecom

Sep 15, 2025

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC)’s latest enforcement wave underscores a clear message: robocall mitigation failures will not be tolerated. Four recent actions — spanning suspected illegal traffic, deficient traceback responses and missing mitigation plans — illustrate the Commission’s dual-track approach to protecting consumers and holding providers accountable.

1. Belthrough: Suspected Illegal ISP-Impersonation Calls
   On September 10, 2025, the FCC issued a Notification of Suspected Illegal Traffic to Belthrough after tracebacks tied the provider to ISP-impersonation robocalls offering fake discounts or demanding gift card payments 
   
   Deadlines: Within 48 hours, Belthrough must detail mitigation steps. Within 14 days, it must investigate, block the traffic and similar calls and report back. 
   
   Risks: Failure to comply could lead to Initial and Final Determination Orders requiring industry-wide blocking and removal from the Robocall Mitigation Database (RMD). This letter makes clear that illegal traffic enforcement is immediate, high-stakes and directly tied to RMD compliance.
    

2. RMD Order on Traceback Deficiencies: 12 Providers Named A September 9, 2025 group order targeted 12 providers that pledged in their RMD filings to respond to tracebacks within 24 hours but failed to do so. Despite an earlier warning, each still has unresolved ITG tracebacks. 
   
   Deadlines: Providers have 14 days to cure by responding to all outstanding tracebacks or explain why their filing should not be considered deficient. 
   
   Risks: If deficiencies stand, their RMD certifications will be removed, requiring all downstream carriers to block their direct traffic. For the industry, this order reinforces that the 24-hour traceback requirement is more than a promise — it’s enforceable, with immediate operational consequences if ignored.
    

3. RMD Order for Ananya Traders: Missing Mitigation Plan Also on September 9, the FCC issued a provider-specific order against Ananya Traders for failing to upload a compliant robocall mitigation plan, despite a prior notice in 2024. Between June 2024 and May 2025, Ananya was linked to 298 tracebacks, many involving brand-impersonation fraud. 
   
   Deadlines: The company has 14 days to file a complete RMD update. 
   
   Risks: Without compliance, Ananya will be removed from the RMD, triggering industry-wide blocking of its direct traffic. This order highlights the importance of substantive, specific mitigation planning, not just minimal filings.
    

4. Massive RMD Removals: Over 1,200 Providers Cut Off On August 25, 2025, the FCC’s Enforcement Bureau issued a Final Removal Order removing over 1,200 voice service providers from the Robocall Mitigation Database for failing to comply with updated RMD requirements. These providers did not submit mitigation plans or their filings were missing required information under the February 2024 deadline. Some had already been identified in earlier enforcement efforts.

Connecting the Dots: Two Tracks, One Outcome

Together, these actions reflect the FCC’s integrated enforcement strategy:

• Illegal traffic notices trigger rapid blocking obligations under Section 64.1200.

• RMD compliance orders ensure that filings are not hollow, but backed by timely traceback responsiveness and detailed mitigation plans.

The tracks converge in the same place: removal from the RMD and industry-wide blocking if providers fail to comply.

Actions to Strengthen Compliance and Reduce Risk

Taken together, these FCC actions highlight that compliance is no longer optional. Providers that want to protect their business and customers should focus on a few core actions that strengthen compliance and reduce exposure to enforcement risk.

• Treat the 24-hour traceback requirement as a hard operational SLA, with systems in place to respond quickly.

• Ensure mitigation plans are detailed, actionable and updated, covering customer vetting, analytics and upstream monitoring.

• Act immediately on illegal traffic notifications, documenting mitigation within 48 hours and reporting full results within 14 days.

• Monitor counterparties for RMD removal events and be prepared to block automatically.

• Strengthen existing robocall mitigation strategies by incorporating solutions such as Do Not Originate (DNO) lists that help identify and block spoofed or fraudulent calls before they traverse networks.

These latest actions show the FCC is moving faster and more firmly against robocall facilitators. For providers, compliance is no longer just a regulatory checkbox — it’s a business continuity requirement. Those who cannot demonstrate credible mitigation and responsiveness face not only fines or orders, but complete exclusion from the voice network ecosystem.