On September 2, 2026, the FCC’s Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau released a Public Notice seeking comment on a proposed “Robocall Mitigation Scorecard,” a public rating system meant to grade voice service providers on how well they protect consumers from illegal robocalls. The proposal is another example of the Commission leaning on transparency and consumer-facing tools, rather than new rules, to push providers toward stronger anti-robocall performance. Chairman Brendan Carr framed the scorecard as a way to give consumers more information about the providers protecting them and to incentivize providers to improve their efforts.
How the Scorecard Would Work
The scorecard would rate domestic wireless, wireline, and VoIP providers that serve retail customers. The FCC is still weighing whether to limit ratings to a handful of major carriers that serve most of the retail market or extend them across the industry, including small and regional providers. Two categories of metrics are on the table:
- Conduct-based metrics would look at what a provider does: the call-blocking and labeling tools it offers customers, how it responds to traceback requests, whether it implements SIP call attestation, and its enforcement history.
- Outcome-based metrics would look at what actually happens: consumer complaints filed with the FCC and FTC, the percentage of illegal calls a provider blocks (weighed against a false positive rate for legitimate calls mistakenly flagged), and broader robocall volume trends.
The Commission has not settled on a presentation format, and its notice floats options ranging from letter grades and numeric scores to risk tiers or branded ratings. They have also been explicit that the scorecard is not a rulemaking and will not function as a compliance determination.
How Does This Impact My Business if I’m Not a Carrier?
Telemarketing companies, lead generation businesses, and the customer engagement industry are not the direct subject of this proposal, but they have a real stake in how it turns out. Complaint volume and traceback responsiveness are both proposed outcome metrics, which means a campaign that generates a high number of consumer complaints could indirectly drag down the score of whatever carrier handles its calls. That creates an incentive for providers to scrutinize or drop customers whose calling patterns look risky, whether or not those campaigns are fully compliant. A public score could also start factoring into how businesses select and negotiate with carriers, adding a new variable to vendor decisions alongside price and reliability. And the scorecard’s focus on blocking and labeling accuracy is a reminder that legitimate, consented calls can still get caught in the same filters built to stop bad actors.
The Window to Weigh In Is Short
None of this is finalized. The FCC is accepting comments on the scorecard proposal through September 22, 2026, and reply comments through October 2, 2026. Businesses whose call volume, complaint history, or carrier relationships could be touched by this scorecard have a real opportunity to help shape it before the methodology is locked in.
Comments can be filed electronically through the FCC’s Electronic Comment Filing System, referencing CG Docket No. 26-239.
If you have questions about how the proposed scorecard could affect your business, or would like help preparing comments before the deadline, we can help.
