Experts: Are We Ready for a Universal Registry of Known Telephone Numbers?

It’s been two years since the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) mandate took effect to implement the STIR/SHAKEN call authentication framework to mitigate illegal robocalling in the U.S. While some systems have been put into place to register phone numbers – giving legitimate calls an A-level attestation so they can be properly completed – a national mechanism requiring all service providers to register their phone numbers does not exist. Similarly, such a mechanism does not exist on a global scale, leaving the door open to uncertainty about which calls should be completed and opportunities for fraud.

These pressing issues and potential solutions were the focus of the recent SIP Forum KYC Summit 2023 webinar panel: Are We Ready for a Universal Registry of Known Telephone Numbers?

Panel moderator and iconectiv SVP of Corporate and Business Development Chris Drake was joined by fellow industry experts: Allyson Blevins, Senior Director Numbering Policy for Sinch; Adrian Lazar Adler, Sr. Manager Business Assurance for T-Mobile; Melissa Blassingame, Senior Director Business Development for Twilio; and Mike Rudolph, CTO of YouMail.

The webinar kicked off with panelists weighing in on the question: “How is STIR/SHAKEN faring in the U.S. since it was launched in mid-2021?” While opinions varied on STIR/SHAKEN’s overall effectiveness to date in mitigating unwanted robocalls, there was a general sentiment that the additional data provided by STIR/SHAKEN calls is useful to determine how to treat an inbound call, and overall, the framework is viewed as a good start but requires ongoing improvement. This is due to challenges, such as lost STIR/SHAKEN info when legacy technology is in the call path, leased telephone numbers, and confusion among enterprises about how to navigate.

Much of the webinar focused on the concept of a universal registry of Known Telephone Numbers, which according to Drake, “much like the Known Traveler Numbers we all love because they help us skip the long lines at TSA, Known Telephone Numbers, as part of the STIR/SHAKEN mandate would give legitimate calls an ‘A’ attestation so they can skip the line to terminate properly at their audience.”

Panelists explored this concept, emphasizing the need for simplicity and inclusivity, and suggested a solution should provide transparency and accountability. Panelists also discussed some key considerations about sharing information about phone numbers in and out of service, maintaining privacy and company information, the practicality of obtaining legal entity identifiers for all call originators, as well as procedures for unblocking legitimate calls that have been incorrectly labeled or blocked.

The panel wrapped with thoughts on the importance of easy product experiences, guidelines for aggregators, education about labeling legitimate calls, and the overall need for restoring trust in the voice ecosystem. Across the board, panelists recognized the value of a universal registry of Known Telephone Numbers, but acknowledged the complexities and challenges involved in its implementation, and the importance of collaboration, simplicity, and the need for ongoing assessment and improvement of existing solutions like STIR/SHAKEN.

A replay of the panel – Are We Ready for a Universal Registry of Known Telephone Numbers? – is available here.