The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) should maintain a standardized requirement for voice service providers to provide notifications of blocked calls, CUNA and other organizations said in comments filed with the FCC. The comments were filed in response to a petition from USTelecom asking the FCC to permit a flexible range of notification methods when calls are blocked.

Specifically, CUNA’s comments call on the FCC to maintain the requirement that providers use SIP/ISUP Codes, which is present in the FCC’s December 2020 order. The comments note a standardized notification method is critical for credit unions to be able to receive it and recognize their calls are being blocked.

The SIP/ISUP codes are required to be finalized by Jan. 1, 2022. USTelecom has requested that implementation date be delayed as well.  

CUNA and the organizations disagree, instead calling on the FCC to “require Voice Service Providers to use another standardized notification mechanism” if the SIP/ISUP codes are not finalized by that deadline.

“Any interim notification should be specifically designated by the Commission, provide immediate notification, and inform the caller who is blocking the call. One or more alternative mechanisms can be used pending implementation of the SIP Codes,” the comments read. “Finally, the Commission should require that compliance with any interim notification requirement is, like the notification methods adopted in the Fourth Report and Order, a condition of receiving protection under the safe harbor provided in the Order for Voice Service Providers that block calls that are highly likely to be illegal.”