RoboCop

This is an interactive system that will prevent robocallers from randomly calling people and will allow the FTC to keep track of identified phone numbers.

I offer a solution that, I believe, will allow the receivers of these calls help the FTC to stop robocalls. What I offer consists of an online database and a small device (henceforth referred to as the monitor) that the receiver of the calls (henceforth referred to as the user) would connect to their home phones. (Note that I am only addressing home phones in this portion but a similar solution could be created to install on mobile devices)

Once the user connects the device, all calls are first “captured” in the monitor. The calling number is examined against the online database to see if it is restricted. If it is not restricted, it will pass through to the user’s phone and the phone will ring. If it is an unrequested solicitation or a robocall, the user can see the number on the monitor and, by pressing a button, terminate the call and send the number to the FTC to be added to the database. If the call is from a number that the FTC has determined to be problematic, the user’s phone will not ring. Instead, the monitor device will instruct the caller to contact the FTC to determine the restriction status. The database could be setup to receive the user’s alert via phone line. The information that would be sent (when the user presses the “Report Caller” button on the monitor) would contain the caller’s number, the date and time of the call, and the user’s phone number. These three fields would allow the FTC to set call thresholds to manage:

• How many calls a problematic call can make to a given number during a certain period of time.

• How many users a problematic caller can call before they become restricted

• Maintain a record of problematic callers

• Force telemarketers to contact the FTC once they have been restricted

The database of restricted numbers could be maintained by the FTC and updated on all devices daily, so new restricted number would not be allowed through within a day or so of them being restricted by the FTC. Once a number has been restricted by the FTC, it will not be allowed to call any phone that has a RoboCop attached, thus preventing the violators from using the number in the future.