Maryland Attorney General Leads Bipartisan Push to Fortify Rules Against Robocall Scammers

Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown, alongside a bipartisan group of 49 other state attorneys general, has formally requested the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to implement more robust “Know Your Customer” (KYC) regulations. The aim of this initiative is to curb the proliferation of illegal robocalls that exploit the U.S. telecommunications infrastructure. These enhanced KYC rules would mandate that phone companies thoroughly understand the identity and business operations of their customers, enabling them to more effectively identify and disable those utilizing their services for illicit calling activities.

The core of the robocall problem lies with originating voice service providers, which act as gateways for scammers to access the U.S. communication network. By strengthening KYC requirements, the attorneys general hope to make it significantly harder for bad actors to initiate these unwanted calls. The current regulatory framework, while requiring providers to know their customers, is demonstrably insufficient, as evidenced by the sheer volume of scam calls. Last year alone, Americans were inundated with over 29.6 billion scam robocalls and texts, resulting in nearly $2 billion in financial losses.

Attorney General Brown and the coalition have urged the FCC to adopt several key enhancements to the existing KYC rules. Firstly, they propose that originating providers be required to do more than simply verify a customer’s identity. This would include assessing the customer’s business practices, their overall reputation and history, their intended use of the service, and their adherence to relevant state and federal laws. Such a comprehensive understanding would allow providers to better flag potentially fraudulent operations before they can cause widespread harm.

Furthermore, the coalition advocates for uniform KYC standards across all originating providers, regardless of their size. Smaller providers, in particular, have been identified as potential weak links in the system, sometimes being exploited by scammers due to less stringent oversight. Applying enhanced KYC standards universally would eliminate this loophole and prevent bad actors from targeting smaller, less regulated entities to gain access to the network.

Additionally, the attorneys general support the implementation of more rigorous monitoring for customers deemed “high-risk.” While KYC requirements should apply to everyone, providers should be expected to exercise heightened diligence and long-term surveillance over clients who subscribe to high-volume services or exhibit other characteristics that suggest a greater propensity for engaging in unlawful robocalling activities. This targeted approach would allow for proactive intervention and a more efficient allocation of resources in combating scam operations.

These recommendations follow recent submissions by the coalition to the FCC in July, as part of Phase 2 of “Operation Robocall Roundup.” This multi-state effort, coordinated by the Anti-Robocall Multistate Litigation Task Force, aims to systematically dismantle robocall networks. Phase 1 of the operation, launched in August 2025, involved issuing warning letters to 37 smaller voice providers suspected of facilitating illegal robocalls. Phase 2, which commenced in December, expanded the investigation to include four of the nation’s largest intermediate voice service providers, demonstrating a commitment to addressing the issue at all levels of the telecommunications ecosystem.

The proposed regulatory changes, if enacted, could lead to fewer scam calls reaching consumers’ phones, potentially saving individuals and the nation significant financial losses. Residents who continue to receive excessive or suspicious robocalls are encouraged to report them to their state Attorney General’s office and the FCC.

Article by Mel Anara, based upon information from the Maryland Attorney General’s Office.

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