Update – Government of Canada announced on Nov. 17:
“The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission’s (CRTC) today signed a memorandum of understanding with the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC).
This formal agreement will allow both organizations to work more collaboratively on the growing threat that unwanted robocalls (also known as automated dialing-announcing device calls) pose to citizens in Canada and the United States.
Furthermore, this agreement will enable the CRTC and the FCC to facilitate research and education related to robocalls and illegitimate caller ID spoofing. The organizations have also committed to sharing knowledge and expertise through training programs and staff exchanges, as well as inform each other of legal developments in their respective jurisdictions.”
Taking a cue from the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC), the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) is on a mission to stop unwanted calls from flooding their citizens’ phone lines.
On November 7, the CRTC announced that all Canadian telecom companies will have 90 days to come up with “technical solutions […] to block illegitimate nuisance calls within their networks.” Additionally, the telcom companies will have 180 days to update the filtering services that they offer to customers, similar to email filters.
This announcement comes only two weeks after the FCC hosted their second meeting to discuss their progress in fighting robocalls and four months after the FCC Chairman first implemented a 60-day deadline for U.S. carriers to provide a solution to their customers.
Unfortunately, similar to the U.S.’s Do Not Call Registry, Canada is having the same issue with their national do-not-call list. It is just as ineffective despite 300,000 complaints being reported against unwanted telemarketers, reports CBC News.
CRTC Chair, Jean-Pierre Blais also announced in a release on Monday, Nov. 7, that he has faith that the telecommunications service providers will develop and implement call management solutions for the millions of Canadians who are tired of being bothered by nuisance calls.
