# Advanced Methods To Target and Eliminate Unlawful Robocalls
> **Federal Communications Commission** · Final rule. · Published 2018-01-12 · Effective 2018-02-12 · 83 FR 1566
## Document
- **Document number:** 2018-00457
- **Category:** robocall-tcpa
- **Federal Register citation:** 83 FR 1566
- **CFR reference:** 47 CFR 64
- **Publication date:** 2018-01-12
- **Effective date:** 2018-02-12
- **FCC docket:** CG Docket No. 17-59
## Abstract

In this document, Commission issues new rules that protect consumers from unwanted robocalls by permitting voice service providers to proactively block telephone calls when the subscriber of a phone number requests that calls purporting to originate from that number be blocked, and when calls purport to originate from three categories of unassigned phone numbers: Invalid numbers, valid numbers that are not allocated to a voice service provider, and valid numbers that are allocated but not assigned to a subscriber. While such calls may appear to be legitimate to those who receive them, they can result in fraud or identity theft. To combat these scams, the new rules expressly authorize voice service providers to block these robocalls without running afoul of the FCC's call completion rules. To minimize blocking of lawful calls, the Commission encourages voice service providers that elect to block calls to establish a simple way to identify and fix blocking errors. The rules also prohibit providers from blocking 911 emergency calls.

## Source
- [Federal Register document](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2018/01/12/2018-00457/advanced-methods-to-target-and-eliminate-unlawful-robocalls)
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