Last week, Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Ajit Pai released a proposed Second Report and Order relating to the implementation of STIR/SHAKEN call authentication protocols as mandated by last year’s TRACED Act. According to the fact sheet that the FCC released, the order would do the following, if adopted:

• Require voice service providers to either upgrade their non-IP networks to IP and implement STIR/SHAKEN, or work to develop a non-IP caller ID authentication solution.
• Establish extensions of the June 30, 2021 caller ID authentication implementation deadline for small voice service providers, voice service providers that are currently incapable of obtaining a “certificate” necessary to implement STIR/SHAKEN, services scheduled for discontinuance, and non-IP networks.
• Require voice service providers subject to an extension to implement a robocall mitigation program on the non-STIR/SHAKEN-enabled portions of their networks.
• Require all voice service providers to file a certification in a Commission database showing how they are acting to stem the origination of illegal robocalls.
• Establish a process by which providers that make early progress on caller ID authentication implementation can obtain an exemption from the June 30, 2021 deadline, as required by the TRACED Act.
• Prohibit voice service providers from adding any line item charges to the bills of consumer or small business customer subscribers for caller ID authentication technology, as required by the TRACED Act.
• Require intermediate providers to implement the STIR/SHAKEN caller ID authentication framework in the IP portions of their networks by June 30, 2021.

This proposed order follows the First Report and Order and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking released in March. The FCC will vote on whether or not to adopt the Second Report and Order during its September 30, 2020 meeting.