A multifaceted approach to ending unsolicited telephone calls by leveraging existing technology to allow consumers to immediately "block" all future calls from an unwanted source.
By implementing regulation governing commercial telephone subscribers, telephone service providers would be required to categorize entities with anticipated high-volume outbound call traffic and all entities recognized as a commercial call center to participate in the "Robo Kill" program. Under which, all outbound voice traffic will be transmitted using a single Automatic Number Identification (ANI) telephone number which will be displayed on the consumer's Caller ID. When dialed, this number will be routed (at the subscriber's telephone service provider) to an automated system which presents two options: 1) Block all future calls from this organization. 2) Connect to this organization's customer service department.
Selecting option 1 initiates an automatic inbound block from the offending number at the service-provider level, preventing any and all calls by that number from reaching the consumer.
Selecting option 2 initiates an automatic transfer of the call to the organization's dedicated customer service line, which will allow the consumer to reach a live person at the organization.
By establishing the block at the telephone service provider, the only way an offending organization can work-around the block is by changing their telephone number with their telephone service provider. Since the service provider is charged with the responsibility for identifying and categorizing organizations with heavy outbound traffic, any number change request must be handled by written request and human review to ensure that appropriate justification for the number change exists.
Further, this automated blocking system will allow telephone service providers to maintain a database of all block requests to identify trends and punish repeat offenders.
This solution requires no equipment purchase and very little impact to the consumer. If the consumer does not have Caller ID, *69 or a similar "call back" feature could be used with the same effect. Further, this solution protects ALL voice lines including cellular, landlines, fax lines, VoIP, etc.
All of the technology to implement this solution is readily available and, in some cases, already in use by service providers today. Almost all service providers offer automated access to account information, including the ability to block inbound calls from a specified number. Automated attendant technology is readily available and can be configured to establish the call block and redirect to a customer service number with little effort.
Total impact on the customer is approximately 45 seconds, from dialing the number and selecting the option to block the call. Blocks would be maintained for a period of 5 years or until the organization ceases operation and/or changes its number.
Selected business categories would be exempt from this solution (such as health care providers, verified service providers, etc), but would still be required to provide an ANI that connects a caller to that organization's customer service department.
I believe this solution provides a very high level of confidence with a low cost of implementation. Initial stand-up of the solution would require telephone service providers to retroactively categorize commercial customers and enroll participants in the program, which would be time-consuming. Moving forward, however, service providers would include these steps in their new account creation procedures for seamless integration.
As with the "telephone service for the deaf" service line tax, this solution could be funded by the establishment of a tax on all subscriber line customers, or only on commercial customers depending upon funding requirements.
Additional details can be found in the attached proposal PDF. I appreciate your consideration of this solution and anxiously await your decision.
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