Miyares, other attorneys general urge FCC to strengthen robocall mitigation efforts

Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares recently joined a bipartisan coalition of 46 attorneys general urging the Federal Communications Commission to strengthen its Robocall Mitigation Database to combat illegal robocalls. The coalition highlighted the database's inadequacy in preventing scammers from obtaining legitimate registrations to make these calls.

The RMD, established in 2021, requires voice service providers to register with the FCC. But coalition members argue that the database lacks enforcement mechanisms, allowing companies to submit inaccurate or incomplete information without consequences. That loophole, they said, enables "bad actors" to gain access to the U.S. telephone network and continue their illegal robocall operations.

"When was the last time anyone was thankful for a robocall?” said Miyares. “Not only are robocalls annoying, they can also rack up billions of dollars through scams targeting the most vulnerable."

The Attorneys General are calling for specific improvements to the RMD, including:

• requiring the FCC to validate the accuracy of information submitted by providers.

• implementing penalties for providers who submit false or misleading data, including barring them from operating in the U.S. telephone network.

If you or someone you know has been the victim of fraud through robocalls, contact the Virginia Consumer Protection Section by clicking here or by calling the Virginia Consumer Protection Hotline at 1-800-552-9963.